Washington Wolf Population Soars To 260

A minimum of 260 wolves roamed Washington at the end of 2023, a 20 percent jump over the previous count and marking a 15th straight year of population growth.

WDFW and tribal managers report there were 42 packs in the state, 25 of which were successful breeding pairs, up from 216 wolves in 37 packs last year, but down a breeding pair.

It amounts to strong support of WDFW’s proposal to downlist the species to sensitive status — a Fish and Wildlife Commission decision is expected in July — and will flummox those who routinely portray the state’s population as weak and in need of maximum protections. The average annual growth rate has been 23 percent

The agency reports that six new packs either formed or were reestablished last year, but confirmed that the Big Muddy Pack in the Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery zone was down to one animal.

“Although the first pack to recolonize the South Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery region only had one wolf during the year end counts in 2023, we have observed multiple collared wolves south of Interstate 90 in the last year,” said WDFW Director Kelly Susewind in a press release. “This likely means it is only a matter of time before new packs begin to establish in that recovery region.”  

A total of 36 wolf deaths were recorded last year, including 22 harvested by tribal hunters, five struck by vehicles, four by poachers, two by WDFW in response to depredations and another by a cougar, among others.

The state’s packs were confirmed to have killed ten head of cattle – mostly calves – and two mini donkeys, and probably also killed three other cows and an alpaca, as well as were confirmed to have injured seven cattle and one of the donkeys before it was later killed. Twenty-one percent of the 42 packs depredated last year, though seven of those nine had two or fewer attacks.

A total of $1.6 million was spent on wolf management last year, mostly for management and research and including $31,602 for lethal removals, $164,102 for range riders and $28,596 for livestock loss claims.