Wildlife refuges reorganizing because of staff, program cuts

MISSOULA (AP) — Federal wildlife regulators are planning to reorganize the National Wildlife Refuge system in Montana and several other states, including Wyoming and Colorado, because of staff and program cuts.

A draft report from U.S. Fish and Wildlife concluded some of the affected areas will have to rely on private landowners.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said the draft document has been in the works for three years.

“Status quo is not an option,” said the report. “We cannot operate with high numbers of vacant positions on organizational charts while we try to continue to do the work of...