The report shows that the minimum year-end wolf count increased by more than 17% at the end of 2025, following a decline a year prior at the end of 2024.
WASHINGTON, USA — Washington’s wolf population is at its highest level to date according to the Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Annual Report. The report shows that the minimum year-end wolf count increased by more than 17% at the end of 2025, following a decline a year prior at the end of 2024.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) partnered with tribes across the state and counted 270 wolves, 23 breeding pairs and 49 packs across Washington as of 2025, according to the press release. Pack sizes at the end of December ranged from two to 12 wolves and several packs either formed or reestablished. Most of them were made up of three to seven wolves.
“We confirmed six new or reestablished packs in the annual count,” said WDFW Wolf Biologist Trent Roussin. “Those that reestablished include the Salmo, Smackout, and Vulcan packs in northeast Washington. New packs include the Cameron Lake pack on the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and the Billy Goat and Tupshin packs in the North Cascades Recovery Region.”
WDFW annually counts wolves through their tracks, aerial and camera surveys, according to the release. The results represent a minimum count of wolves associated with packs and an additional 12.5% for lone wolves. This is to account for those that WDFW didn’t count since it is difficult to count every single wolf in Washington.
WDFW did not document any packs or breeding pairs in the Southern Cascades or Northwest Coast Recovery Region in 2025. However, Roussin says that at least two wolves were sighted there and had likely traveled through the area during the year.
WDFW did document 28 wolf mortalities during 2025, two of which were caught in the act of depredating on livestock, two that died of natural causes and four that were “lethally removed in response to wolf-livestock conflict,” according to the release.
For more information on the Gray Wolf population in Washington, visit the WDFW website.
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