Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has approved a license for a bobcat fur farm in Fergus County.

The license allows the owners of the Schultz Fur Farm to keep captive bobcats for the sale of their pelts to the commercial fur industry.

The farm is owned by a North Dakota couple seeking to relocate to central Montana.

FWP officials say they received more than 21,000 comments about the license application, mainly opposition from animal-rights advocacy groups and individuals.

The Great Falls Tribune reports just 20 comments were in support of the proposal.

FWP officials say fur farms are a legal business that are controlled and monitored under state law.

Farm owner Larry Schultz said after the approval that wildlife regulators had no reason not to grant the permit.

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