New State Report Shows Continued Wolf Recovery in Washington

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife today released its annual 2025 wolf report, documenting a minimum of 270 wolves, 49 packs, and 23 breeding pairs statewide as of Dec. 31, 2025. The report found that Washington’s wolf population increased over the previous year and reached its highest documented level to date.
This report underscores what we have seen for years: wolves are recovering in Washington, and coexistence is working in most places. Ninety percent of known packs were not involved in any known livestock depredations in 2025, despite many packs overlapping with livestock country. State lethal removals also remained relatively low. For ranchers and rural residents who are experiencing challenges posed by wolves there is more work to do.

“Washington’s wolves continue to show that recovery is strong and that coexistence is possible,” said Dave Werntz, Science and Conservation Director at Conservation Northwest. “The growth in breeding pairs is especially important because it tells us the population is continuing to establish and sustain itself.

Just as important, the majority of wolf packs are not involved in livestock conflict.

That reflects a tremendous amount of hard work by cattle producers, range riders, tribes, agency staff, and local communities.”

As wolves continue to expand into more of their historic range, Washington must continue to increase its investment in the people and tools that make coexistence possible. That includes support for range riding, nonlethal deterrence, technical assistance, and programs that help ranchers and rural communities adapt to growing wolf activity on the landscape.

“As wolf populations grow, Washington State will need to increase its investment to support ranchers and other rural residents adapt to increased wolf activity on the landscape,” said Werntz.

Wolf recovery in Washington is one of the state’s most important conservation success stories. Keeping that momentum going will require continued commitment to practical, collaborative solutions.

Read the full report here: Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management 2025 Annual Report | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Conservation Northwest is a Washington-based nonprofit that has been at the forefront of wolf recovery and wolf-livestock conflict prevention in the state through policy advocacy, public education, and collaboration with ranchers, agencies, Tribes, and local communities. The organization has also helped advance nonlethal tools and programs, including range riding and other coexistence measures aimed at reducing conflict where wolves and livestock overlap.