wolves

California has relaunched its Wildlife Coexistence Program as gray wolf populations hit a record number of pups across the state. The program aims to reduce conflicts between wolves and ranchers through nonlethal measures like deterrents and monitoring. The move comes as wolf packs expand beyond their northern strongholds, drawing both praise from conservationists and concern from livestock producers.

A new study says the wolf population at Isle Royale National Park in Michigan carries genetic defects from inbreeding but is still likely to survive. Researchers point to ongoing conservation efforts, including reintroduced wolves, as helping rebuild genetic diversity in the isolated island population.

A wolf has been shot during a hunt in Töreboda municipality in Sweden, according to reports from Swedish hunting media. The story has been updated as more details emerged about the circumstances of the shooting. Wolf hunting remains a divisive issue in Sweden, so incidents involving shot wolves tend to draw attention from both hunters and conservation groups.

A wolf pack in Asotin County, Washington is once again the target of lethal removal action, according to the Spokesman-Review. The report revives a long-running conflict in the region, where state officials have repeatedly authorized killing wolves after repeated livestock depredations. The issue continues to divide ranchers, wildlife advocates and state wildlife managers over how wolf recovery should be managed.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has suspended its wolf depredation policy, which had allowed action against wolves involved in killing livestock. The agency made the decision out of concern for the state's small wolf population, following its reintroduction efforts. The move is likely to draw mixed reactions from ranchers dealing with livestock losses and conservationists supporting wolf recovery.

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch voiced support for the NBA's new anti-flopping measures, saying the league needs to crack down on players exaggerating contact to draw fouls. "Hopefully the league cleans up this crap," Finch said Wednesday, adding that "nobody wants to watch it." His comments come as the NBA tightens enforcement ahead of the upcoming season.

Colorado wildlife officials will temporarily stop lethally removing wolves that prey on livestock, citing the state's struggling reintroduced wolf population. The pause means ranchers dealing with wolf attacks will rely on compensation and non-lethal measures instead of having problem wolves killed. The decision highlights the tension between the state's voter-approved wolf reintroduction effort and concerns from the agricultural community over livestock losses.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says it will attempt to kill a second wolf from the Couse pack, in the state's southeast. The agency typically takes such lethal action after repeated conflicts with livestock, and wolf removals in Washington routinely draw strong reactions from ranchers and conservation groups alike.

Montana Free Press has published a feature examining how conspiracy theories about so-called superwolves—oversized, fictional predators allegedly roaming the American West—take hold and divide communities. The piece explores how tall tales about wildlife spread online and erode trust in wildlife management agencies, turning wolf policy in states like Montana into a battleground of rumour and misinformation.