Update: Some tragic, even barbaric stories about wolf killings in the Northern Rockies are emerging. On the very day that these wolves lost their Endangered Species protection, a crippled wolf named "Limpy," one of the most photographed wolves in Yellowstone's famous Druid Peak pack, was shot to death when he ventured outside the park. Another wolf was stalked for over 35 miles by snowmobile before being overtaken and shot. Another was found dead on the side of the highway, his still-warm body torn apart by bullets. And, tragically, at least four female wolves have been killed just prior to the denning season, which could doom some of the region's wolf pups. Of course the exterminators will accuse people who care about wolves of being incurably sentimental, anthropomorphic or even human haters. But these stories and even more to come demonstrate that these beautiful canines need and deserve protection from man's irrational loathings.Several environmental groups including have NRDC sued the US to put grey wolves back on the Endangered Species list after the federal government bowed to pressure from western ranchers and hunters and allowed states to resume "management" of their wolf populations. The suit alleges that the states lack laws adequate to protect the animal from a repeat extermination. The removal of federal protection has resulted in the indiscriminate killing of wolves in Idaho and Wyoming. Part of the hunting and ranching culture in these states is to treat canis lupus, an intelligent apex predator that plays a significant role in maintaining ecological balance, as vermin. Wolves are again being gun downed on sight. Since delisting on March 28th 37 wolves have been killed or about 2% of the population according to an AP report. Wolves were brought back from the brink of extermination through federal protection when 66 wolves were imported from Canada thirteen years ago. Estimates are that 1500 wolves now inhabit the northern US Rockies.