WOLF KILLED BY POACHER!

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!

Received February 3rd,1998

Greetings Sisters and Brothers of the Wolf.  We have unfortunate news to share with you. Please distribute the following message ~ We need your help on this one.

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She was a shadowy gray adult female, born in 1991 in the Ninemile valley near Missoula, Montana. Her family, the Ninemile pack, was made famous by wilderness author Rick Bass in his bestseller, "The Ninemile Wolves," published by Ballantine Books, 1993. The Ninemile pack was one the first packs to settle in Northwestern Montana. Their story was plagued with the
difficulties of being among the first wolves to return to an area where many people feared and opposed the return of the wolf. Several pioneer wolves died but enough lived to give birth to pups and define their niche in this new wolf territory. Rick's book chronicles their re-establishment with the help of Mike Jimenez, a dedicated wolf researcher who has been the guardian of this
pack since they first settled the Ninemile valley.

This adult gray female was the daughter of one of the original settlers. She was nicknamed "Auntie" by biologist Mike Jimenez as she took over the role of primary caregiver for the pups of the pack. While the alpha female (the mother) would hunt for food to feed her pups, Auntie would stay at the densite and stand guard over the youngsters. Wolf "babysitters" also serve as
teachers for the pups who must quickly learn the essential skills for survival.

In February of 1997, the pups of the year nearly full grown, Auntie and several of the pups she had helped raise left the Ninemile valley. The pack had grown to 12 members and wolves often disperse from their home pack to search for new territory to start new packs. As only one female (the alpha) typically breeds and produces pups, perhaps Auntie was searching for a mate to begin her own family. Tragically, before breeding season, she was illegally killed near the northern city of Moscow, Idaho. As there is no evidence to suggest she had been involved in the death of any livestock it appears her death was simply a random act of violence against a species long misunderstood in this region. The old "joke" among wolf opponents is "Shoot, Shovel and Shut Up." Often law enforcement officers find little evidence to convict wolf killers. Yet, this time they discovered the crime and, with our help, Auntie's killer may yet be brought to justice.

The Wolf Recovery Foundation and the North American Wolf Association have pledged to assist the US Fish & Wildlife Service Law Enforcement officers with our help. Together we are building the Wolf Protection Fund to directly aid in the recovery and protection of wolves. Donations raised through this fund will help us post a reward for information leading to filing criminal charges against Auntie's killer. In the long term, these funds will be strictly used to advance the recovery of wolves though public outreach, future protection, research, and efforts to restore wolves where they rightfully belong.

THE WOLVES NEED YOUR HELP NOW

The time to help is now. It takes funding to make these efforts successful. If you can afford to help us, please act today. If you know others who understand the importance of our mission and want to help, please contact them or send us their names. Every donation is important as together each of us strengthens the circle of support for the wolves. The Wolf Recovery
Foundation and the North American Wolf Association are well known for their important roles in wolf restoration. Their union in this effort flags the critical need for a fund that can serve to protect and advance the recovery of wild wolves now and for future generations.

Please send your support to:

The Wolf Protection Fund
C/O The Wolf Recovery Foundation (a 501.C.3 Non-profit organization)
P.O. Box 44236
Boise, ID 83711-0236

For the Wolf Clan, we thank you.

Suzanne Laverty, Director
Wolf Recovery Foundation (208) 321-0755
P.O. Box 44236
Boise, ID 83711-0236
Email: WRFwolf@aol.com

Rae Henderson Ott, Director
North American Wolf Association (281) 821-4884
23214 Tree Bright
Houston, Texas 77373
Email: Nawa@nawa.org

MoonTalker and Evening Earth are members of the Sisterhood of the Wolf

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