CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Monday that Wyoming has at least 327 gray wolves, based on data from Dec. 31, 2020.
There were 147 wolves inside Wyoming’s “Wolf Trophy Game Management Area” where Game and Fish manages, the population.
“The wolf population for Yellowstone National Park and Wind River Reservation is at least 123 and at least 21 respectively,” Game and Fish said. “An additional 36 wolves were documented in the seasonal WTGMA and predatory animal areas outside Yellowstone and the Wind River Reservation, bringing the total minimum population in Wyoming to at least 327 wolves.”
Gray wolves in Wyoming were removed from the endangered species list on April 25, 2017, according to Game and Fish. The department said that 2020’s population data marks the 19th consecutive year in which the gray wolf population in the state has exceeded de-listing criteria.
“After having management of wolves returned to Wyoming in April of 2017 we made a strong commitment to ensure we would be responsive and responsible managers in accordance with the plan,” said Game and Fish Large Carnivore Section Supervisor Dan Thompson. “Part of that is providing an accurate population estimate possible. We are building a dataset that supports our management actions and helps target areas of livestock conflict and areas where there are concerns with how wolves are affecting certain big game populations.”
Game and Fish say their 2020 Wyoming Gray Wolf Monitoring and Management annual report shows that “Wyoming is maintaining wolf numbers at healthy levels using hunting, which also helps hold conflict numbers at bay.”
“Established population objectives for wolves are outlined in the Wyoming Gray Wolf Management Plan,” Game and Fish said. “That plan guides wolf management in Wyoming and is the plan the state will continue to implement following the 5-year post delisting monitoring period. Recovery criteria for Wyoming is 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs outside Yellowstone National Park and the Wind River Reservation.”
Game and Fish said that a steady wold population in Wyoming can partly be attributed to hunting of wolves in the northwest part of the state in the “Wolf Trophy Game Management Area.”
“Wolf hunting seasons within the WTGMA and seasonal WTGMA require hunters to have a license and adhere to set mortality limits and other regulations,” the department said. “In 2020, hunters in the WTGMA and seasonal WTGMA accounted for nearly 43% of all wolf mortalities, while conflict attributed to 38% of the mortalities.”
“Game and Fish is currently taking comments on the 2021 proposals for gray wolf hunting seasons. The public can review the draft regulations and submit comments until 5 p.m. June 4.”
