Montana’s wolf population has been declining for years, according to the state’s updated model

Montana's wolf population is lower than previously thought, and has been declining since its peak in 2013, according to the new annual report by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The state's updated population estimation model, iPOM 2.0, involves changes to some of the major inputs, including calculations of wolf pack territory (larger than previously thought) and wolf pack size (lower than previously thought, and decreasing over recent years). The changes result in a reduced statewide population estimate from nearly 1,100 (as reported in the last several years using iPOM 1.0) to about 725.