Northern Rockies wolf population rose in 2011

HELENA — The wolf population in the Northern Rockies rose in 2011 despite the removal of federal protections and hunts being held in Montana and Idaho.

This undated image provided by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks shows a wolf in Montana. Hunters in Montana have shot about 160 wolves as the season comes to an end Wednesday, falling short of the state's 220-animal quota. State wildlife commissioners are considering extending the season in the Bitterroot Valley near the Idaho border in response to complaints about declining elk numbers.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday that the region's population was 1,774 wolves, an increase of more than 7 percent from 2010 numbers.

FWS Regional Director Steve Guertin says the population estimates show that Montana and Idaho have done a good job in their first year of managing the species since Congress removed federal protections.

Montana had aimed to cut its population by 25 percent. But the hunt fell short of the quota and the state's wolf population actually rose 15 percent in 2011.

In Idaho, there were 31 fewer wolves at the end of 2011 compared to the year before.