Wild Wolf Populations in the United States
Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) were once among the most widely distributed wild mammals. They inhabited most of the available land in the northern hemisphere. Due to the destruction of their habitat and persecution by humans, they now occupy only about two-thirds of their former range worldwide, and about 10 percent of their historic range in the continental 48 United States. Gray wolf populations according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies:
GRAY WOLVES IN THE WESTERN GREAT LAKE STATES
» Minnesota: 2,919 (Winter 2022-2023)
Status: Federally endangered. Federally delisted in January 2021 and relisted in February 2022. More information.
» Wisconsin: 1,007 (2022-2023)
Status: Federally endangered. Federally delisted in January 2021 and relisted in February 2022. More information.
» Michigan: 631 (2022)
Status: Federally endangered. Federally delisted in January 2021 and relisted in February 2022. More information.
» Isle Royale National Park: 30 (Feb. 2022)
Status: Federally endangered. Federally delisted in January 2021 and relisted in February 2022. Additionally, people are not permitted to hunt on Isle Royale. More information.
NPS Wolf Relocation Project: September 2018 - National Park Service began its wolf relocation project - a planned "genetic rescue" of Isle Royale’s dwindling wolf population to keep the species going and allow the unique ecological study that began 60 years ago to continue. Between 2018 - 2019, a total 19 wolves were relocated to Isle Royale from the mainland of US and Canada.
GRAY WOLVES IN THE NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATES
» Idaho: ~1,337 (2022 - Based on remote camera surveys)
Status: Population state managed. Idaho’s wolf management plan includes an annual hunting season. More information.
» Montana: 1,087 (2022 - Patch Occupancy Model)
Status: Population state managed. Montana's wolf management plan includes an annual harvest season. More information.
» Wyoming: 352 (As of Dec. 31, 2023)
Status: Population state managed. (Federal appeals court upheld the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2012 decision to remove gray wolves in Wyoming from the endangered species list -March 2017) More information.
GRAY WOLVES IN COLORADO
» Colorado: 12 (December 2023)
Status: Federally and state endangered, managed as a 10(j) population. 10 wolves were released from Oregon in December 2023 and there are two resident wolves that migrated into CO from Wyoming. More information.
GRAY WOLVES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
» California: Around 45 wolves, including adults, yearlings, and pups of the year.Status: Federally protected and State endangered. More information.
» Oregon: 178 (April 2024)
Status: Wolves throughout Oregon were delisted from the state Endangered Species Act (ESA) on November 9, 2015. Wolves in the western portion of the state (west of Hwys 395-78-95) lost federal protections in January 2021 and regained federal protections in February 2022. More information.
» Washington: 260 individual wolves in 42 family groups/packs (April 2024). Status: Federally protected in the western two-thirds of the state, state/tribe managed in the eastern one-third. More information.
MEXICAN GRAY WOLVES IN THE SOUTHWEST
» Total in the U.S. : 257
» Arizona: 113 (2023 population survey)
Status: Federally protected with exceptions as a nonessential experimental population.
» New Mexico: 144 (2023 population survey)
Status: Federally protected with exceptions as a nonessential experimental population. Fact Sheet re 2015 Final Rule courtesy USFWS.
» U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Mexican Wolf Recovery Reports.
GRAY WOLVES IN ALASKA
» Alaska: 7,700 - 11,200 (2017)
Status: Population state managed as both a big game animal and a furbearer, management includes intensive predator control programs. More information.
RED WOLVES IN THE SOUTHEAST
» North Carolina: 18 known (As of February 2024)
Status: Federally protected with exceptions as a nonessential experimental population. More information.
» Learn about the ongoing Review and Evaluation of the Red Wolf Recovery Program.