There was a time when wolves were numerous in the Northwest and a period of when they were wiped off this part of the map (missed the history lesson? Read it here). Today, 15 years after recolonization, these animals are making remarkable progress on their road to recovery in Oregon and Washington.
Long-term restoration, however, will take more than increasing numbers of wolves on the landscape. It will take a lot of hard work from everyone to find solutions to reduce wolf-livestock conflict and ensure wolves have the habitat and sufficient human tolerance needed to thrive.
Counting Today’s Northwest Wolves
Every winter, biologists from Oregon and Washington’s departments of fish and wildlife conduct their annual wolf count surveys. Both states track their wolf populations through a minimum population count, which is based on verified, direct evidence of each wolf. This includes observations, remote cameras and tracks.
Winter is the ideal time because wolf pups born in the spring are considered to have a good chance of surviving into adulthood if they reach the cold season. Animals are additionally easier to spot with less foliage and tracks are more easily identifiable in the snow.
Biologists also track the number of breeding pairs in each state. This is an important indicator of population growth and a core metric for recovery. Additionally, they monitor the number and cause of wolf mortalities. Determining the cause of death within populations is important because it provides insight into types of human-caused mortalities which we can work to reduce, such as poaching (illegal killing or 'take').
Finally, the number of reported livestock depredations are summarized, which reflects the continued efforts needed to support suitable habitat for wolves and help ranchers deter wolves from predating on their cows and other livestock.
All this information is then brought together into each state’s Annal Wolf Report, which is released to the public in April. Both Oregon and Washington’s 2025 Wolf Counts paint the same picture we have seen since initial recolonization: populations are growing and expanding west.
Conflicts between wolves and livestock producers are not significant statewide in terms of overall livestock losses but are very important in areas where it is occurring. This conflict can impact certain producers and communities more than others.
Wolves have filled out much of the available habitat in the eastern portions of both states. There does remain unoccupied, yet suitable habitat, however, in the central and western portions of Washington and Oregon (as well as further south into California).
If recovery trends continue, within the next several years, we should expect wolves to meet recovery goals in both states. But this won’t be the end of the story.
Much has changed since both plans were written, so both are in need of updating during a future Wolf Plan revision process. New science and species modeling may also bring new considerations to future management discussions.
Regardless of future management decisions, Defenders of Wildlife will remain focused on these animals’ long-term recovery and looks forward to the day when wolf populations are playing out their ecological role throughout the Pacific Northwest. The question is, how do we get there?
A Look Towards the Future
What does wolf recovery look like biologically and socially? And how many wolves can Oregon and Washington support to help achieve that recovery?
Wolves can live in a variety of habitats as long as they have adequate prey and sufficient human tolerance. In the past 200 years, the amount of available habitat has decreased as human presence has increased. Wolves natural prey — such as deer, elk and moose — have also been affected by human presence. Many of these populations have fallen due to habitat loss and fragmentation inhibiting connectivity across the landscape and disrupting migration corridors.
Scientists have attempted to make estimates for how many wolves each state could support. Washington is estimated around 76 packs, or just over 450 individuals, while Oregon is estimated around 1,500 individuals. Looking at each state in isolation, however, is probably not the best approach as dispersing wolves move across the landscape and cross borders – into neighboring states and Canadian Provinces – in search of food or mates.
Working towards, and hopefully achieving, target wolf population goals is important, but not sufficient to ensure long-term recovery. We need to make sure wolves have the habitat they need to hunt, mate, raise pups and live out their lives as adults.
The habitat needs to be sufficiently connected to allow dispersing wolves to move to new areas and establish new breeding pairs and packs. Local, state and federal authorities need the capacity and tools to minimize negative wolf-livestock interactions. We need to work with landowners and producers to help them implement methods and strategies to address wolf-livestock conflicts. And we need to help educate people of all ages about these fascinating animals and how to live alongside them.
Luckily, Defenders is already working alongside partners and with producers to do and support all these efforts. We can find solutions that work for both wolves and those sharing the landscape with them.
And who knows? Maybe one day we will find ourselves in a world where humans and wolves coexist. Where people and animals are once again seen as equals, or kin, on the landscape.
In case you missed it, check out the history of Pacific Northwest wolves. Curious about wolves in other parts of the country? Read other gray wolf recovery and efforts here.
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