The year of 2020 was a particularly successful year for wolves in Washington, with a population increase of 22% from the previous year, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. In 2019, WDFW counted at least 108 wolves and 10 breeding pairs in Washington.
“We’re happy to see this increase in our state’s wolf population, but Washington officials still need to stop killing these amazing animals,” said Sophia Ressler, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The necessary dispersal to reach full recovery will never occur if the state continues killing wolves in the same place year after year.”
The statistics:
- The minimum year-end wolf population increased by 22%, consisting of 24 known packs, from a 2020 report. A less certain estimate of 46 wolves in 5 packs was reported by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
- Four new packs were formed in 2020.
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed 108 wolves, 10 breeding pairs and and 21 packs on non-tribal lands.
- Across several other areas in 2019 new packs were confirmed in the northwest area of the state.
- All the new formations of packs and breeding pairs show a steady yearly increase, despite previous threats and setbacks to their population.