Oregon Wolf Population Continues To Grow

Oregon’s gray wolf population grew in 2020 with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife documenting 15 more wolves. ODFW released its annual Wolf Conservation and Management Report this week, which stated there are at least 173 known wolves.

ODFW determines the population based on tracks, sightings as well as photos from remote cameras. Wolves started returning to Oregon in 1999 following decades of effort toward eradicating the species across the West. The Wenaha pack was the first to become re-established in the far northeast corner of Oregon in 2008.

The number of packs was unchanged from 2019.

Of the counted packs, 17, according to ODFW, have breeding pairs, with an adult female, adult male and at least two pups that survived through the end of 2020. The annual growth rate for Oregon’s wolves over the past five years has averaged around 9.4%.

The report added nine known wolf deaths in 2020 with seven of those caused by people. Four of those involve wolves killed illegally. Three of those killings remain under investigation.

Visit ODFW's Website to check out the entire report.

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