Our mission is wolf recovery in Maine through research, education, and protection.  The purpose of this particular project is to determine the status of wolves in Maine.  Both the state and federal governments deny their existence without proof and contrary to ample evidence that wolves are attempting to recolonize Maine.  Wolves are protected under the ESA and both the state and federal governments are encouraging the illegal killing of wolves by either promoting the killing of "coyotes" or by doing nothing.  As citizens, we have decided to do the work that the government refuses to do.  We have even asked for state funding and have been denied.  Wolves are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem and environment.  We have also begun a collaboration with Canadian wolf researchers to help determine the extent to which wolf populations in the region are expanding.  We hope to prove the existence and status of wolves in Maine in order to make the case that protective measures need to be taken.  We have already begun the project using volunteers to collect wild canid scat samples over a 5,000 square mile area of northern Maine.  We intend to have at least one hundred scat samples to submit for DNA analyses.  Using the limited funds we have, we have already sent six of our largest and freshest samples collected to date for analysis.  Total cost for analysis of one hundred samples is $10,000.