Schweitzer says Montana will defy feds, kill wolves that prey on elk, livestock

BILLINGS - Defying federal authority over gray wolves, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Wednesday encouraged ranchers to kill wolves that prey on their livestock - even in areas where that is not currently allowed - and said the state will start shooting packs that hurt elk herds. Schweitzer said he no longer would wait for federal officials to resolve the tangle of lawsuits over wolves, which has kept the animals on the endangered species list for a decade since recovery goals were first met. "We will take action in Montana on our own," he said. "We've had it with Washington,...