State commission to consider Montana wolf quotas

The state Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is scheduled to meet Thursday to set a tentative quota for Montana's 2009 wolf hunting season. The options range from 26 to 207, based on the size of wolf population that would be maintained in the state. Montana has at least 500 wolves in 84 known packs. Federal rules require the state to maintain a minimum of 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs. The commission had tentatively adopted a quota of 75 wolves for the 2008 hunting season, but those were never given final approval after environmental and conservation groups filed a lawsuit, arguing wolves were prematurely removed from federal protection...AP