A federal judge had restored endangered species protections for wolves in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Dozens of wolves have been killed for no reason whatsoever since the Bush Administration removed gray wolves from the Endangered Species list in late March.

Judge Molloy’s ruling throws an important lifeline to wolves by putting a stop to state plans that allow them to be killed for little or no reason and halting the aggressive hunting seasons that had been planned for this fall.

This is a big step forward, but it may be only temporary -- and it’s certainly not the final word on this issue. 

Do the "Write Thing" for Wolves by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to show you support a more reasonable approach to wolf management in the region.

Some people refuse to find middle ground.  Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition leader Ron Gillette went so far as to tell a local reporter, "Now it will be all-out war." 

The truth is, wolves are here to stay.  We have two choices: we can allow this issue to further polarize our communities -- or we can work together to find a reasonable solution that we can all live with. 

Most of us understand that living with wolves and wildlife is part of being a Westerner -- and part of what makes it so special to live here. 

Ultimately, the goal is to see wolves removed from federal protection and managed by the states in a responsible and sustainable manner.  But we won’t get there using the past tactics of excluding stakeholders and ignoring science for the sake of political expediency.

One of the best ways to show your support for better wolf management is by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. 

This is an important time to publicly ask our state officials to work together to develop a reasonable, science-based wolf management plan for the region that ensures connectivity between wolf populations in the Northern Rockies and balances the needs of all stakeholders -- not just one side.

With your help, we can convince our state officials to manage wolves in a way that will give them a lasting future in the West. 

Suzanne Asha Stone
Northern Rockies Representative
Defenders of Wildlife Boise Office