Extensive wolf populations have continued to exist across Alaska since before European settlement in North America. Large expanses of wildlands and healthy ungulate populations secure the wolf's future here. State management allows an annual harvest, which takes approximately 15 percent of the wolf population each year. Over the last 30 years, management in Alaska has included local wolf control programs aimed at improving coexistence between the wolves, native cultures and hunters, although these programs remain controversial. Main prey for wolves here are moose, caribou, Dall sheep, deer, beaver and mountain goat. Wolf range is 99 percent of the map shown.
Species Information
Species
Common Name: gray wolf, amaguk (Nunamiut)
Latin Name:
Canis lupus
Subspecies
Common Names: northwestern wolf
Latin Name:
Canis lupus occidentalis
Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status
Number of wolves: 8,000 - 11,000
Population trend: Stable/slightly increasing
Legal status: State managed
Human Relationships
Recovery & Management Information related to legal status, regulations and management plans and practices in Alaska.
Wolf Human Interactions
Information related to human safety, hunting competition with humans, ecotourism and tips for coexisting with wolves in Alaska.
Related Links & Information
Information or links to other agencies or groups in Alaska related to the relationship between humans and wolves.
Ecology
Biology
Descriptions of species/subspecies present: physiology and unique characteristics as well as information related to distribution of wolves in Alaska.
