WA wolf population grows by five percent
By Terry Murry on Monday, April 10th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
OLYMPIA – The Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management 2022 Annual Report was released Friday, and it shows that the wolf population has increased for the 14th consecutive year. WDFW also documented Washington’s first pack to recolonize south of the Cascades this winter.
The population grew by five percent over 2021. A new pack in the southern Cascades is a big step toward recovery of the wolf population according to Director Kelly Susewind.
“The goal has been for wolves to spread into all three recovery zones, and we are pleased to see their progress in recolonizing their former range,” he added.
As of Dec. 31, 2022, WDFW and tribal entities counted 216 wolves in 37 packs in Washington. Of those, 26 packs had successful breeding pairs. Eight new packs formed in 2022. Those packs are located in Klickitat, Chelan, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, and Spokane counties.
WDFW states that, as in previous years, the wolf count represents the minimum number of wolves in the state. The count also does not include lone wolves without a pack. WDFW also finds that only 19 percent of the packs were involved in at least one confirmed depredation and three packs were involved in two or more. Fifteen cattle and two sheep were confirmed to have been killed by wolves, and one was considered likely to be killed by wolves. Nine cattle were confirmed as injured and two were likely injured by wolves.
“Implementation of proactive, nonlethal deterrence efforts by livestock producers, community partners, range riders and WDFW staff has minimized documented livestock depredation and removal of wolves, all while our wolf population continues to grow,” Wolf Policy Lead Julia Smith said.
