The First Dire Wolf Puppies in 10,000 years

Dire Solves Extinct for 10,000 years

Instead of using ancient DNA (which is too degraded), scientists used the modern gray wolf, which shares 99.5% of its DNA with the dire wolf. They used CRISPR (a revolutionary gene-editing technology adapted from bacterial immune systems) to edit 20 specific points across 14 genes to mimic the traits of an ancient dire wolf.

Defenders of Wildlife - Gray Wolves

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Sarah Palin called it an "extreme fringe" group. They had taken a stand against the aerial killing of wolves in Alaska. It is a non-profit group that was listed as one of the best wildlife charities in the United States by Reader's Digest. The Defenders of Wildlife sent me the following:

One of the worst pieces of anti-wildlife legislation in decades could head to the White House for signature unless we can stop it in the Senate.

S. 659, also known as the "Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2016," is making steady progress in the Senate. The House of Representatives has already passed a terrible version of this bill, loaded with destructive provisions that threaten wildlife and their habitats.

If this legislation becomes law, wolves, bears and other iconic wildlife you love will die.

Urgent: Tell your senators to oppose S. 659 with its harmful provisions!

This bill would:

1. Strip gray wolves in Wyoming and the Great Lakes Region of all federal Endangered Species Act protections
2. Open the way for targeted killing of wolves, bears and other large carnivores in national wildlife refuges across Alaska
3. Gut Clean Water Act safeguards that protect our streams, rivers and lakes from toxic pesticide pollution, putting wildlife and local communities at risk.

You and I must put a stop to these destructive legislative proposals. Tell your senators to take a stand for wildlife by opposing S. 659!

Earth Justice on the Gray Wolf.

"Echo" is dead, shot to death by a hunter

I honestly hate hunting with a passion. I have never understood how anyone can kill a living thing or kill for the thrill. Below is the very sad tale of  Echo sent to me by the Defenders of Wildlife--

Dear Lynn,  It is with a heavy heart that I write to share the news – the Grand Canyon wolf is dead.

DNA analysis confirms that the female wolf shot and killed on December 28^th in Utah was the same wolf that some in the Southwest had nicknamed “Echo.” Not long ago, she captured the world’s imagination by showing up on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon – hundreds of miles from her birthplace in the Northern Rockies. She was the first wild wolf to see the Grand Canyon in 70 years.

Her death is a cautionary tale a glimpse into the dark future facing so many of America’s wolves if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service goes through with its proposed national delisting.

I know you love wolves as much as I do. So won’t you please make a generous donation today to Defenders of Wildlife – for the wolves and other vulnerable wildlife?


We’re fighting a multi-front war for America’s wolves - in Washington, D.C., in the field, and in rogue states like Idaho. No one fights for the wolves you love harder than Defenders. But we can’t do it alone.

That wolf traveled hundreds of miles from her Northern Rockies home in search of new habitat and a mate. That’s what healthy wolves do. She reminded us all of the resilience of these magnificent animals. But her tragic death also reminds us that wolves need continued protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Please donate today to help us continue our all-out fight for America’s wolves!

Thank you for your passion and your commitment.