Montana judge blocks wolf season closure near Yellowstone

BILLINGS — Wolf hunting and trapping can resume near Yellowstone National Park after a Montana judge on Wednesday blocked the state from shutting down the practice.

The restraining order from Judge Nels Swandal allows hunting and trapping to resume in areas east and west of the town of Gardiner. State officials closed the gray wolf season in those areas on Dec. 10 after several wolves collared for research were killed, drawing complaints from wildlife advocates.

The closures prompted a lawsuit from sporting groups and a state lawmaker from Park County, Rep. Alan Redfield, who said the public w...