Animal rights group Defenders of Wildlife and actress Ashley Jud joined forces in a campaign to stop the killing of wolves and bears from helicopters in Alaska.

The animal rights group not only takes on Alaska’s predator control program, but also targets the program's chief supporter, Gov. Sarah Palin.

In a video posted on a Web site by the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, Ashley Judd says it is time to stop the “senseless savagery,” referring to the aerial hunting of wolves. The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is the political part of the Defenders of Wildlife group.

The animal rights groups said Gov. Palin has proposed a $150 bounty for each dead wolf.  Allegedly more than 800 wolves have been gunned down since the program started about five years ago.

On the other hand, Gov. Sarah Palin said the Defenders of Wildlife are an "extreme fringe group" that is "twisting the truth". The high-ranking official and former Republican vice presidential candidate said the program is based on scientific facts and it is an essential tool to sustain moose and caribou populations for Alaska subsistence hunters.

 “Shame on the Defenders of Wildlife for twisting the truth in an effort to raise funds from innocent and hard-pressed Americans struggling with these rough economic times,” said Gov. Palin.

The Defenders of Wildlife harshly criticized Palin during the presidential campaign during which she ran for VP along the Republican nominee of the White House, John McCain. The animal rights group raised more than $1 million.