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Trap Free Montana

@trapfreemt

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Connecting hearts and minds through science, truths in trapping, and compassion for wildlife biodiversity, coexistence, and responsible stewardship.

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It’s Wolf Awareness week… and I’m again forced to sit with the duality of how wildlife - wildness itself - is treated in this state, in this region of the country, on our planet as a whole. Many of us… most of us I would argue, revere it. Respect it. See it as a teacher, guardian and guide. But all too many still only see something to be feared, managed and exterminated.
The latest loss of a collared research wolf, who ventured beyond the invisible boundaries of YNP only to be shot in the gut and paraded on social media like some sort of prize, has sat heavily with me these past few days. The person responsible is barely even an adult. He won’t feed his family with its meat. He won’t wear its pelt for survival in the snow… how does that not horrify people? How is such a thing actually celebrated by some? Who are we as a species, to be in this place of apathy at best, and hatred at worst?
I do not get to sit with fully wild wolves, but I am beyond fortunate enough to spend time with those who could not survive in the wild, and who do not see humans as the threat they often are. And I will tell you my heart knows the truth of who they are. How similar they are to us in so many ways. How much we stand to learn more about ourselves and this great big world by connecting with them, and through them.
I believe we will find a way to come back into balance. It requires compassion. It requires patience. It requires being open to a new way of being in this world. I have to have faith that as a collective we will somehow right this ship, because the alternative is too dark to consider.
So this Wolf Awareness week I am thankful for all that wolves have shown me. I am grateful for Shiloh here (and Koa, Raven, Shasta and Kiowa) who have sat by my side and howled as I have cried unimaginable pain from my heart. What a beautiful gift, worth far more than anything this world deems valuable. A’ho my friends. 🙏🐺

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Nothing like hearing a wolf howl in the morning and then finding them. The wolf that I heard first lead us to this wolf in the video. Watch to the end to hear her howl. These wolves belong on the landscape. #Howl #wolf #wolves #nature #howlforlife

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🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨: President Trump has just signed (on National Wildlife Day) an executive order putting Gray Wolves—and even endangered Mexican Gray Wolves—directly in the crosshairs.

The order directs the Interior Department to consider removing their Endangered Species Act protections, prepare delisting recommendations for Congress and encourage states to eliminate protections of their own.

Federal protections have not been stripped away today—but this order opens another path toward more hunting, trapping and killing.

Wolves are native wildlife, not political bargaining chips. Their future must be guided by science.

This moment also emphasizes the critical importance of responsible stewardship of wildlife at the state level. When federal protections disappear, states inherit an even greater duty to manage wildlife for healthy, connected populations—not political pressure or the demands of those who simply want fewer wolves.

We will not let this attack go unanswered.

Stand with wolves. Raise your voice.

TeamWolf.Org

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Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission just ignored their own agency, ignoring the public and putting more than 40% of the state’s estimated wolf population up for slaughter.

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🚨ACTION ALERT!🚨Montana overcounted its wolves. They’re still planning to kill up to one-third of them. We cannot let this happen.

For years, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks estimated the state’s wolf population at more than 1,000 wolves. After revising its population model, the agency now estimates there are about 725 wolves statewide.

In response, FWP has proposed lowering the 2026–2027 wolf hunting and trapping quota from 450 wolves to 250.

While that’s a reduction, 250 wolves still represents roughly one-third of the state’s estimated wolf population. Because wolves live in tightly bonded family groups, removing breeding adults can destabilize packs, reduce pup survival, and increase the likelihood that packs break apart.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will vote on the proposal August 19, and public comments are open through August 12.

Now is your chance to speak up.

📢 Public comments are open through August 12, and the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider the proposal during its August 19 meeting.

Here’s how you can help:
🚨Submit a public comment before August 12.
Go to > fwp.mt.gov

Scroll to the agenda item titled:
“Fall 2026–Winter 2027 Furbearer/Wolf Trapping and Hunting Seasons, Quotas, and Regulations.”

Ask the Commission to adopt science-based wolf management that prioritizes healthy, resilient wolf populations and intact family packs over aggressive hunting and trapping quotas.

Your voice can help shape the future of wolves in Montana.

Protect wolves and join the pack at TeamWolf.org.🐺

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WATCH: Sen. Cory Booker just blocked an attempt to strip Gray Wolves of their federal protections.

Yesterday, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) asked the Senate to pass the Pet and Livestock Protection Act (S. 1306) by unanimous consent—a bill that would remove Gray Wolves from the Endangered Species Act and leave their future in the hands of state politicians.

Booker objected, stopping the effort in its tracks.

This is an important victory, but the fight is far from over. The House has already passed its companion bill, H.R. 845, and efforts to strip Gray Wolves of federal protections are continuing in Congress.

Thank you, Senator Booker, for standing up for science, the Endangered Species Act, and Gray Wolves.

Raise your voice for wolves at TeamWolf.Org!

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BREAKING NEWS — Montana (admittedly) still doesn’t know how many wolves are in the state. They have dramatically revised their wolf population estimate downward, but the state is still proposing another aggressive killing season.

Montana did not suddenly lose nearly 400 wolves. The state changed its population model—and the new result exposed just how much uncertainty existed in the estimates used to justify years of escalating wolf killing.

FWP’s original model estimates 1,094 wolves in 2025. Its preliminary updated model estimates only 725—a difference of 369 wolves. Yet Montana is proposing a recreational hunting-and-trapping quota of 250 wolves, while separately authorizing landowner and agency control killing. If the quota is filled, total authorized killing could reach approximately 285–305 wolves.

Most alarming, FWP’s own report estimates the population has declined 22% since 2021 and warns that killing at recent average levels would produce continued declines, potentially pushing the updated population estimate below 450 wolves within three years. The agency is nevertheless preparing to gamble with a native carnivore using a population model that has not completed peer review.

This is not precautionary wildlife management. It is an attempt to manage wolves toward the lowest population Montana believes it can legally maintain.

Take action by August 12: Visit the Montana FWP page for the August 19 Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting and use the online public-comment portal beneath the wolf-regulations proposal. Demand that commissioners reject the 250-wolf quota, suspend aggressive killing until the updated model is independently reviewed and validated, protect Yellowstone-border wolves, and end baiting, snaring and nighttime technology-assisted wolf hunting. The Commission is scheduled to vote on August 19.

Reporting based on Montana FWP’s 2025 Annual Wolf Report and regulatory proposal, with analysis first reported by @wildearthguardians.

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The American Wolf stands for everything humans should wanna be. They care for families, young ,and old. They teach respect ,and honor, and most of all pride. They are being tortured ,and hunted unjustly for egos,and greed by despicable demons. There is no humanity left in this hunters. Please get involved talk to your congressman, support WOLVES, they are not the villain of the story, they are the heroes !!! #🐺 #patriot #American #Heroes #Warrior #family #pride #honor#wolves #wolf #savewolves #lovewolves #wolfup #🇺🇸 #🇺🇸🐺wolfy PS. Here some good organizations to get involved in, thank you for caring !!! #🖤🐺 @wolfconservationcenter @trapfreemt @projectcoyoteorg @womenforwolves

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Haven’t photographed a wolf in 8 months! Always such an amazing privilege to be able to be in their presence.
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#wolf #wolves #wolvesofinstagram #ynp #yellowstonenationalpark

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🚨 “Kill’em young.”

— RICHARD HUXLEY

According to screenshots shared publicly online, Richard Huxley made that comment in response to discussions about Mexican gray wolves.

A wolf pup.

A member of one of the most endangered wolf populations in North America.

The Mexican gray wolf is still recovering from near extinction.

Celebrating the deaths of endangered pups is not conservation.

It is a reminder of how much work remains and how much hostility this species still faces.

Image source: @trapfreemt
Shared via: @awolfadventure

#MexicanGrayWolf
#SaveTheMexicanWolf
#WolfRecovery
#EndangeredSpecies
#JusticeForTheSawtoothPack

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#👹#💔 PLEASE don’t look away, get involved. They are putting bombs in food so they blow up wolves, and other animals in their mouth. Leaving them to die a horrible death !!! This is absolutely barbaric, the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen happen. Shame on our government for letting this happen. @realdonaldtrump President Trump, you have done such a great job in so many areas, you failed us when it comes to our wildlife ,and our public lands, especially our predator animals, and wild horses. This is no way for a country to act if they want kindness in children, it starts with the smallest creature. We are all connected, please do something about this immediately. There is no humanity left here !!! #savethewild #savewolves #stopkillinganimals #stopkillingwolves #lovewolves #wolflovers #wolves #wolf #cruelty #abuse #America #patriots #🇺🇸#🐺 #kindnessmatters #😡🐺wolfy PS. A nation is only as good as how it treats its smallest creature we have failed !!! PLEASE get involved in calling your congressman, and here are some good organizations that can also help. @antihuntingmovement @teamwolf @womenforwolves @trapfreemt @wolves_of_the_rockies @howling4wolves

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As a keystone species, wolves help maintain balanced ecosystems which connect us all. Right now, however, Congress is ignoring the advice of scientists and working to strip Gray Wolves of federal protections legislatively rather than through Fish & Wildlife.

This will set a dangerous precedent. Act now at TeamWolf.Org before it’s too late!

This comic was created by @wawawiwacomics in collaboration with @rewritingearth.

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