The Winning Wolf Photo and a Greater Yellowstone Wolf Update

More than 58,000 wildlife lovers like you have cast your votes in our online poll to determine the cover image for Defenders 2009 calendar. With 23,000+ votes, this adorable picture of a Minnesota timber wolf pup by wildlife photographer Jim Brandenburg is the winner:

Full Results: Wolf Pup - 23,078 votes (40%); Wolf Lying Down 21,748 votes (37%); Denali Wolf -13,547 votes (23%)

Make sure you get your 2009 Defenders calendar later this year and help support vital efforts to save wolves in Greater Yellowstone and other wildlife. If you haven’t already, please join Defenders of Wildlife now with your tax-deductible donation of $15 or more.

Dottye, your contribution is about much more than a calendar. It’s about Defenders of Wildlife’s efforts to save Greater Yellowstone’s wolves and other wildlife.

Last week, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana took over management of our still-recovering wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies. Almost instantly, Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed legislation that allows wolves to be killed for almost any reason, going well beyond the wolf management plan approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Things are even worse for wolves in Wyoming. U.S. taxpayers have spent millions of dollars to restore wolves to the Greater Yellowstone area. Now these same wolves can be killed on sight in 88% of the state. In just the first week following the return to state management, at least 5 wolves were killed, with more deaths expected during this past weekend.

Your donation will help support efforts to save wildlife, such as this project in Idaho that uses fladry to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock.

With the support of caring people like you, Defenders is…

• Beginning legal action against the Bush Administration for abandoning its commitment to wolves;
• Building understanding and tolerance for wolves through public education, speaking at livestock producer annual meetings, rallies, conferences, schools, and other public forums;
• Continuing our work with livestock producers to reduce conflicts with wolves, paying for fladry (a highly effective non-lethal wolf deterrent), range riders and herd dogs to keep wolves away from livestock;
• Providing $100,000 in seed money for a program by the State of Montana that compensates livestock producers for losses caused by wolves;
• Working to ensure that media coverage of wolf issues is fair and accurate;
• And much, much more.

If you would like to make an emergency gift to help support our on-the-ground efforts to save Greater Yellowstone wolves and other wildlife, please donate now.

Your tax-deductible contribution of $15 or more will also ensure that you receive our 2009 calendar and the full benefits of Defenders membership. More importantly, it will provide vital support in one of toughest fights to save wildlife yet.

Whether you make a donation today or not, please accept my sincere gratitude for your amazing dedication to protecting America’s wildlife.

Sincerely,

Karin Kirchoff
Vice President, Membership
Defenders of Wildlife

P.S. You can become a member and support our efforts with a secure online donation. Or call 1-800-385-9712 to donate by phone.