According to a post on Ralph Maughan’s blog, a judge will allow Idaho Fish and Game to use helicopters to conduct research in the Frank Church Wilderness.

The report suggests that preliminary 2009 totals for wolves will be similar to the numbers of 2008, it also offers an update on the wolf hunt and planned research.

Resolution 43 which asks the governor of Idaho to declare a state of emergency for Idaho and use any legal means necessary to reduce the number of wolves to the minimum required to recover the species – which could be as low as 100 wolves.

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.

According to a post on Ralph Maughan’s well-known wolf advocacy blog, the wolf confiscated by officials from an Idaho woman – who sought to see the wolf counted towards the state’s quota - had been left to rot where it was shot.

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.

An Idaho man who shot a wolf illegally in June 2008 must pay restitution, but will not face charges.

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.