Survey: Washington wolf total steadily increasing
Apr. 21—For the 15th consecutive year, the wolf population in Washington has grown, according to a survey published by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Saturday.
The minimum number of reported wolves in Washington increased to 260 in 2023 and included 42 packs with 26 successful breeding pairs that successfully produced at least two pups. The growth represents a slightly-more-than 20% increase from the 2022 population of 216.
The South Cascades region had the lowest reported number: one wolf and no packs or breeding pairs.
"Although the first pack to recolonize the South Cascades and Northwest Coast recovery region only had one wolf during the year end counts in 2023, we have observed multiple collared wolves south of Interstate 90 in the last year," said department Director Kelly Susewind in a news release. "This likely means it is only a matter of time before new packs begin to establish in that recovery region."
Most of the growth was in eastern Washington where the majority of wolves reside. The region had a total of 209 wolves in 33 packs with 20 breeding pairs. Most of those are concentrated in the northeast corner of the state but the number of packs in the Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington also grew. Wolf Group 135 is now classified as an official pack with at least five members. Last year the group now known as the Couse Pack repeatedly preyed on cattle before the department killed two of its members. Southeastern Washington now has six packs — Couse, Tucannon, Columbia, Touchet, Grouse Flats and Butte Creek.
Six new packs were formed or reestablished in Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens and Ferry counties. The North Cascades region had nine packs with five breeding pairs. The state's wolf population had a 23% growth rate from 2008-23.
There was a 14% mortality rate among wolves last year, totaling 36 deaths. Of the wolf deaths, four are under investigation, one was hit by a car, one was killed by a cougar and 22 were legally harvested by tribal hunters.
According to the survey, 21% of the known packs in Washington (9-of-42) were involved in at least one confirmed livestock death or mortality. The department paid $28,596 in livestock loss claims and $31,602 for lethal removal operations in response to depredations on livestock.
In total, the department spent $1,611,412 in 2023 on wolf management activities.
Wolves throughout Washington are protected under the state's Endangered Species Act but federal protection varies according to location. Wolves in the eastern third of the state are not protected by the federal government. Wolves in the rest of the state are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has proposed downlisting the state classification of wolves from endangered to sensitive. That decision will be made later this year but the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Kowatsch can be contacted at tkowatsch@lmtribune.com. Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.
