Montana Wildlife Services names new Garfield County trapper; USDA report shows recent variation in predator take

Douglas (Doug) Ekberg of MT Wildlife Services told the Garfield County commissioners on Feb. 4 that Michael Uphues joined Wildlife Services as the new trapper covering the area on Sept. 10, 2025, following the retirement of John Maetzold on Oct. 1, 2025.

Ekberg and other Wildlife Services representatives present stressed that trappers must have permission to operate on private ranches, and that permission is required even when trapping activities are conducted from aircraft. The USDA document supplied as part of the meeting materials lists staffing changes and historic "take" counts by method and year (firearms, fixed wing, helicopter, snare, foothold, total). The transcript and attached USDA update show an increase in some methods in recent years (for example, helicopter take counts rose in 2023 and 2024) and provide contact information for the Eastern District supervisor, Douglas Ekberg (406-601-9213).

Commissioners received the personnel update and the data; the meeting record does not show any formal county action restricting or authorizing Wildlife Services' methods. Ekberg encouraged landowners to communicate permission requirements directly to Wildlife Services field staff.

The USDA update supplied to the board includes a historic take table and notes the annual Memorandum of Understanding with Stockgrowers and Woolgrowers at a cost-share rate of $0.50 per cattle head and $1.00 per sheep head for services, per the document.