Washington’s Wolf Population Continues To Increase

Washington’s wolf population continued to grow in 2021, marking the 13^th consecutive year where the population demonstrated a year-over-year increased. According to the 2021 annual wolf report the population increased 16% to 206 wolves in 33 packs across the state. Fish and Wildlife added 19 of these packs were successful breeding pairs. That compares to the 178 wolves in 29 packs and 16 breeding pairs reported in the 2020 count.

Since the first WDFW wolf survey in 2008, the state’s wolf population has grown by an average of 25% per year.

"Washington’s wolves continue to progress toward recovery, with four new packs documented in four different counties of the state in 2021,” said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind.

“Although wolf-livestock interactions have remained consistent, we recorded the lowest number of livestock depredation incidents in the state since 2017 and removed the fewest wolves in response to conflict since 2015,” said WDFW Wolf Policy Lead Julia Smith. “We’re committed to promoting the proactive use of non-lethal deterrents to minimize wolf-livestock conflict, and proud to demonstrate that our approach is working thanks to the dedication of livestock producers, non-governmental organizations assisting directly with livestock monitoring, and WDFW staff.”

Since 1980, gray wolves have been listed under state law as endangered throughout Washington. In January of 2021, wolves were federally delisted from federal Endangered Species Act protection and WDFW resumed statewide management of the species. On February 10, 2022, wolves were federally relisted in the western two-thirds of the state and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once again has the lead role in the recovery of wolves in the North Cascades and the Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery regions.

The Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management 2021 Annual Report is available at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's Website. The report was presented to the Fish and Wildlife Commission and the presentation was recorded. That recording will be posted to the website soon.

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