An Idaho committee has voted to accept a bill which would protect the identities of hunters after those who shot wolves during the 2009 hunting season received harrassing calls and e-mails.

A memo leaked, and subsequently republished on Ralph Maughan’s blog, reveals something many wolf advocates have suspected – Idaho is looking to drastically reduce the number of wolves in the state.

Idaho officials are not fooled when a local woman tries a plan to influence the quota count through subterfuge.

The sixth wolf hunting zone has closed in Idaho after the quota was met, but dozens more wolves are earmarked for extermination.

Defenders of Wildlife has started a new campaign targeting those who supported the Idaho predator derbies, in which each wolf killed earned the hunting team three points towards winning prizes.

Articles, such as the one written by Doug Smith for the Star Tribune, highlight the continued battle between hunters and wolves. There are still many misconceptions and the blame for declining deer numbers continues to be layed on wolves – something which is not supported by scientific research. 

It took only four days for hunters in Sweden to reach the quota set for the country’s first hunt in 45 years. Critics are slamming the government’s decision to hold the hunt, and how the hunt was carried out.

A recent attack on a hunting dog in Michigan Upper Peninsula, attributed to wolves, has brought out the wolf hate from the local public, along with claims that human attacks won’t be far behind. Famed Isle Royale biologist, Rolf Peterson, offered his expert opinion on the situation.

The BBC is reporting that Sweden may have killed as many as two-thirds of their wolf hunt quota, and injured several more, on the day of their wolf hunt.

After a year which was marked by a number of steps backwards for America’s wolves, wolf advocates are preparing for another year of fights – and do so by asking for last minute donations.