WOLVES . . . HABEAS LUPUS

A legal battle that kept a dozen endangered gray wolves packed up in crates before they could roam free in the Northern Rockies ended last night with a judge's humane order to unlock the boxes. Despite the court challenge from worried ranchers, eight wolves now have a pen to romp in before they're freed to repopulate Yellowstone National Park. Four others were moved today toward their release site in central Idaho, but a snowstorm delayed the transfer.