Montana to kill 600 wolves

Written By Anjali Ranadive

We are devastated, and trying not to feel broken. On September 6, 2025, Montana’s wolf hunting season will begin — putting hundreds of wolves, including Yellowstone’s world-famous packs, in immediate danger. Scroll for contact info.

The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission has approved a staggering quota: up to 558 wolves may be killed this season — nearly half of the state’s entire population. This is the highest quota since wolves first lost federal protections. 💔

Season of Death

The sanctioned killing spans nearly the entire year:

  • Archery: Sept. 6 – 14, 2025

  • General: Sept. 15, 2025 – March 15, 2026

  • Trapping (outside federal scope): Dec. 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026

  • Trapping (inside federal scope): Jan. 1 – Feb. 15, 2026

This means wolves will be relentlessly pursued for months on end. Yellowstone alone could lose up to 60 wolves, dismantling entire family packs and destabilizing ecosystems that depend on their presence.

Science Ignored

Even Montana’s own wildlife agency acknowledged that removing this many wolves could drop populations below sustainable levels. Yet the Commission pressed forward.

The justification? “Livestock protection.” But in 2024, Montana confirmed only 35 cattle losses statewide — a near-historic low.

This isn’t about protecting ranchers. It’s about eliminating wolves. The cruelty is blatant. The devastation is real. Once again, America’s most family-oriented, ecologically critical predator is under siege.

Why Wolves Matter

Wolves are not villains. They are keystone species:

  • Balancing elk and deer populations.

  • Reviving landscapes through trophic cascades (as seen in Yellowstone).

  • Sustaining scavengers like eagles, foxes, and bears through shared kills.

  • Strengthening ecosystems that in turn support biodiversity.

The loss of wolves is not just about one species. It’s about the unraveling of entire wild systems.

Speak Up for Wolves

Your voice matters. Contact Montana’s leaders today and demand an end to this reckless slaughter. Be respectful, but firm. A suggested message:

“I respect the role of your office in managing wildlife, but I strongly oppose the 2025–26 wolf hunting and trapping quotas. These numbers are unsustainable, ignore science, and threaten both Yellowstone’s wolves and Montana’s ecosystems. Please act to protect wolves before it’s too late.”

Contact Info — Take Action Now

Governor of Montana – Greg Gianforte

  • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 200801, Helena, MT 59620-0801

  • Phone: (406) 444-3111

  • Instagram: @govgianforte

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP)

  • Main Phone: (406) 444-2535

  • Email: fwpgen@mt.gov

  • Instagram: @montanafwp

Montana Office of Tourism

  • Phone: (406) 841-2870

  • Email: Marta.Bertoglio@mt.gov

  • Instagram: @visitmontana

📢 Help amplify this fight. Share widely. Call. Email. Comment. And donate to wolf advocacy

Anjali Ranadive
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A Victory for Wolves