OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) released its 2024 Annual Report on gray wolves, revealing a slight increase in wolf packs but a decrease in the overall wolf population.
The report, published Saturday, shows a 9% drop in the state’s wolf count, with 230 wolves in 43 packs as of Dec. 31, 2024, compared to 254 wolves in 42 packs in 2023.
WDFW Statewide Wolf Specialist Ben Maletzke stated that despite the reduced population counts, wolf recovery is not currently threatened. He noted, “The state’s wolf population grew by an average of 20% per year since the first WDFW wolf survey in 2008, until 2024.”
The report highlighted that the North Cascades and Eastern Washington recovery regions met or exceeded recovery goals for the fifth consecutive year. However, the Southern Cascades and Northwest Coast region did not reach minimum recovery goals, with illegal killings impacting their progress.
WDFW documented 37 wolf mortalities in 2024, including four removals due to wolf-livestock conflict and seven deaths due to unlawful killing or poaching. WDFW Director Kelly Susewind emphasized the seriousness of poaching, saying, “Poaching wolves is unacceptable.”
In 2024, three new packs formed in Kittitas and Okanogan counties. Additionally, 40 depredation events were documented, with confirmed wolf attacks on livestock and domestic animals. WDFW continued working with livestock producers on non-lethal conflict prevention measures.
The report reflects collaborative efforts with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and several Native American tribes.
