Author: Bert Gildart, Special to The Christian Science Monitor

ARCTIC VILLAGE, ALASKA - In this tiny Alaskan town of 120, north of Anchorage and the Arctic Circle, beyond the imaginary line where summer days and winter nights become endless, Sarah James, a Gwich'in Indian leader, is rolling in cash - $130,000 to be exact, a 2001 grant from the Ford Motor Co.

It is, at first glance, an unlikely pairing: Ford products devour oil and gas; the Gwich'in (pronounced guh-WHICH-in) depend on caribou for everything from their meals to the gloves that keep their hands warm.

AUTHOR: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Press Release

(OTTAWA) - Environmentalists are breathing a sigh of relief now that the Ontario government has passed new hunting regulations to better protect the Algonquin Park wolf population. The new regulations prohibit year-round the hunting and trapping of wolves in 39 townships surrounding Algonquin Park.

Today, there are three different, recognized wolf species in North America: the gray wolf (Canis lupus), the red wolf (Canis rufus) and the coyote or "brush wolf" (Canis latrans). The origin of the red wolf has been debated extensively, as some biologists believe that it is simply a gray wolf/ coyote hybrid. Others believe that it is a true species.

A timeline of wolf history in Michigan from 1838 to 2002.

Subspecies: occidentalis

The Mackenzie Wolf was originally classified as Canis lupus mackenzii, the Northwest Territories wolf; not recognized as a sub-species of the gray wolf until 1943.

In 1992, this wolf was re-classified as Canis lupus occidentalis, common with wolves in Alaska and Western Canada.

SOURCE: The Billings Gazette, Associated Press

RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) - Fremont County commissioners are trying to make something clear to lawmakers across the state: wolves are not welcome in their county.

The commissioners voted to reinforce an earlier, controversial resolution declaring wolves as predators.

AUTHOR: Clinton Balok, DVM

Velvet is the word used to describe the antler of animals such as deer, elk, and caribou before it has started to calcify. In the Orient, velvet has been used for over 2,000 years as a natural remedy for a variety of ailments. In North America velvet is marketed as a dietary supplement.

Candy Kitchen Rescue Ranch is a non-profit organization providing safe sanctuary to abused and abandoned captive-bred wolves and wolf dogs, with a focus on education, ecology and the environment, responsible ownership of wolf dogs and the humane care of all animals.

Wolf Awareness Inc. is a non-profit, charitable foundation dedicated to the conservation of wolves’ through research and education. The Central Rockies Wolf Project is the research branch of Wolf Awareness Inc. Scientifically accurate information forms the basis of their education programs.

Wolves have been present in Alaska for about 500,000 years and presently occur throughout most of mainland Alaska, on Unimak Island in the Aleutians, and in most parts of southeastern Alaska.