Anti-carnivore Montana House Representative Paul Fielder introduced three egregious bills into the House this week, continuing his carnivore extermination campaign for the second legislative session in a row. These three bills endanger grizzly bears, wolves, lynx, black bears, the public and their companion animals, and take discretion away from those charged with managing the state’s wildlife. In effect, Fielder is trying to dictate state wildlife management from the capitol.
We have until 5pm TODAY, February 22, to oppose HB 627, 628, and 630 and to sign up to testify. Montana residents: please consider signing up to testify at the February 23, hearing starting at 3pm—either on zoom or in person at the capitol in Helena. All three bills will be considered at the same hearing before the House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee in Room 172.
We OPPOSE HB 627, 628, and 630.
Here’s how you can oppose the bills:
Go to https://leg.mt.gov/public-testimony/ and under ‘Select the Bill,’ scroll to either HB 627, 628, or 630 (you must oppose each one individually). Then, scroll down the page to ‘Select your position on the bill’ and choose opponent, and fill in the remaining boxes, indicating if you are able to testify or not.
HB 627 ‘Revise wolf trapping laws’ (https://legiscan.com/MT/text/HB627/id/2705772/Montana-2023-HB627-Introduced.pdf)
- HB 627 would require that the use of snares “must” be allowed for wolf trapping right outside of grizzly bear recovery zones and lynx protection zones. Currently, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) has the discretion on where to permit snares.
Important messages to deliver:
- Snares are dangerous and indiscriminate, and pose a threat to all wildlife as well as companion animals.
- Requiring the use of snares outside of these protected zones puts lynx and grizzlies—federally protected species—in danger of unintentional capture, which may violate the Endangered Species Act.
- Snaring outside of grizzly bear recovery zones endangers the dispersing bears most essential for establishing a connected and recovered population
HB 628 ‘Revise wolf trapping laws’ (https://legiscan.com/MT/text/HB628/id/2705839/Montana-2023-HB628-Introduced.pdf)
- HB 628 requires that the wolf trapping and snaring season begins the first Monday after thanksgiving everywhere, including outside of existing grizzly bear recovery zones. Currently in areas without grizzlies, the season opens the first Monday after thanksgiving, and in areas with grizzlies, it can start as late as December 31st based on FWP staff recommendations because grizzly bears may have yet to enter their dens during December.
Important messages to deliver:
- This bill would remove one of the very few means to protect federally threatened grizzly bears from wolf trapping and snaring.
- Grizzly bears are already threatened by the season extension Rep. Fielder legislated in 2021 which added the first two weeks of March—a time when grizzlies begin emerging from their dens—to the previous season end-date. This bill would mean that wolf trapping and snaring occur in areas with grizzly bears for up to six weeks while they are out of their dens.
- Wolf trapping and snaring outside of recovery zones will harm the bears most important for species recovery. The ability of grizzlies to move safely between recovery zones is imperative for establishing a connected population.
HB 630 ‘Revise black bear hunting laws’ (https://legiscan.com/MT/text/HB630/id/2706224/Montana-2023-HB630-Introduced.pdf)
- HB 630 will allow hound hunting for black bears outside of grizzly bear recovery zones through June 15, and extend this means of killing to non-residents.
Important messages to deliver
- Hound hunting for black bears endangers grizzly bears, black bears, their cubs, the hounds, and the hunters themselves. Grizzly bears will fight and kill hounds, which usually results in hunters shooting grizzlies in defense.
- Grizzlies start to emerge from their dens in early March, meaning hound hunting will occur while grizzlies are out and about for more than three months.
- Grizzly bears that would be harmed by this bill are those most important for species recovery, as they are the bears dispersing outside of recovery zones and driving population connectivity.
Remember, you can help stand against these bad bills. Here’s how:
Go to https://leg.mt.gov/public-testimony/ and under ‘Select the Bill,’ scroll to either HB 627, 628, or 630 (you must oppose each one individually). Then, scroll down the page to ‘Select your position on the bill’ and choose opponent, and fill in the remaining boxes, indicating if you are able to testify or not.
