Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Releases Annual Wolf Report

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) released its annual wolf report yesterday. The counts for the last year include 126 individual wolves, 27 packs, and 15 breeding pairs (male and female adults who raised at least two pups that survived through the end of the year). This is an increase of four individual wolves, five recognized packs, and one breeding pair from the previous year.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission – the body responsible for management of wolves in Washington – will receive an update from WDFW on the annual wolf report today.

Quinn Read, Northwest program director for Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement:

“Defenders of Wildlife is encouraged by another year of steady, modest growth in Washington’s wolf population, and we are especially excited by news of a wolf pack west of the Cascades Crest. But wolves in Washington are up against some serious challenges to their continued recovery – federal delisting, too few wolves in western Washington for recovery standards, and avoidable conflicts with livestock that lead to “lethal removal” by the state. Defenders is committed to continue working in Washington to ensure that wolves have the protections they need to thrive.