Federal officials modify wolf killing rules.

JACKSON — Federal wildlife conflict specialists say they will no longer kill wolves in Wyoming that have not already been implicated in preying on livestock.

In addition to ending “preventative” killing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services is instating a population-dependent cap on the overall number of Wyoming wolves that can be killed in any year.

The cap will be set at no more than 30% of the statewide population. Federal trappers and gunners working with stockmen and woolgrowers will also prioritize nonlethal methods ahead of making the call to take out wolves, and the agency will tabulate its nonlethal efforts annually in monitoring reports.