Wyoming’s gray wolf population remained above federal recovery goals in 2025, marking the 24th straight year the state has surpassed the population and breeding pair targets established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Wyoming Gray Wolf Monitoring and Management 2025 Annual Report documented at least 253 wolves statewide at the end of 2025, including 37 or more packs and at least 14 breeding pairs. Of those, at least 132 wolves in 22 packs were located within the Wolf Trophy Game Management Area (WTGMA), while Yellowstone National Park had at least 84 wolves in seven packs and the Wind River Reservation reported at least nine wolves in three packs.
The report prepared by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, along with federal agencies and the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribal Fish and Game Department, noted Wyoming’s wolf population continues to meet recovery commitments despite lower wolf numbers in the WTGMA.
Wyoming’s management plan requires the state to maintain at least 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs within the WTGMA, while Yellowstone National Park and the Wind River Reservation contribute additional wolves and breeding pairs toward the federal recovery benchmark of at least 150 wolves and 15 breeding pairs statewide.
The report stated that the WTGMA population declined by 19% in 2025, largely due to reduced pup survival and disease outbreaks, particularly canine distemper and mange. Breeding pairs declined from 13 in 2024 to 10 in 2025, placing the population at the minimum breeding pair commitment established under Wyoming’s wolf plan.
During winter capture efforts, researchers found evidence of canine distemper in several wolf packs across northwest Wyoming. The report found that 64.3% of wolves captured and tested in 2025 were exposed to the canine distemper virus, a noticeable increase compared to recent years.
Even with the decline in wolf numbers, Wyoming Game and Fish officials said the population remains stable in the long term. Long-established packs such as Pahaska, Pacific Creek and Beartooth remained on the landscape, while overall pack longevity in the state stayed relatively strong.
Mortalities, depredations
Human-caused mortality remained the leading source of wolf deaths in Wyoming during 2025, with 113 of the state’s 129 documented wolf mortalities tied to human activity. Another 12 wolves died from natural causes, while four deaths were classified as unknown.
Within the WTGMA, 60 wolves died during 2025. Hunting accounted for 28 mortalities, while another 16 wolves were removed through conflict-control actions related to livestock depredation. Additional mortalities included vehicle collisions, illegal take and mistaken identity shootings.
Wyoming continued its regulated wolf hunting season in 2025 with the goal of keeping the WTGMA population near 160 wolves. State officials set a quota of 44 wolves across 13 hunt areas and one seasonal hunt area, and hunters harvested 31 wolves during the season.
Wolf-livestock conflicts also remained a significant management issue. Statewide, wolves were confirmed to have killed or injured 59 head of livestock in 2025, including 33 cattle, 25 sheep and one miniature horse. Wolves also killed one domestic dog.
In response, 49 wolves were lethally removed by agencies or the public to address livestock depredation concerns. Of those removals, 16 occurred within the WTGMA, and 33 occurred in areas where wolves are classified as predatory animals.
The report noted that no wolf-livestock conflicts occurred in Yellowstone National Park or on the Wind River Reservation during 2025. Yellowstone’s wolf population remained relatively stable with at least 84 wolves documented in seven packs, while the Wind River Reservation population remained at nine wolves in three packs.
Wyoming officials said ongoing population monitoring, genetic testing and adaptive management will continue to play a key role as the state works to balance wolf recovery with livestock protection, hunting opportunities and healthy wild ungulate herds. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
