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Wolves of the World

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Wyoming at a glance

Gray wolves once existed throughout Wyoming, however persecution and, eventually, poisoning began shortly after European settlement. Wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995 and 1996 in an effort to facilitate gray wolf recovery in the Northern Rockies states, and have since thrived and expanded within and outside of the park. Wolves continue to be controversial, and public attitudes vary. Wolf range is approximately 20 percent of the map shown, with most wolves occupying the northwestern portion of the state. Range lines are not depicted. Main prey for wolves there are elk, moose, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and beaver.

Species Information

Species
Common Name: gray wolf, haqihana (Arapaho)
Latin Name: Canis lupus

Subspecies
Common Names: northwestern wolf, Rocky Mountain wolf
Latin Name: Canis lupus occidentalis

Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status
Number of wolves: 315
Population trend: Increasing
Legal status: Federally protected with some exceptions

Human Relationships

History
Information related to the history of wolves in Wyoming.

Recovery & Management
Information related to legal status, regulations and management plans and practices in Wyoming.

Depredation
Information related to depredation issues, compensation and prevention in Wyoming.

Ecology

Biology
Descriptions of species/subspecies present: physiology and unique characteristics as well as information related to distribution of wolves in Wyoming.

Habitat
Descriptions of ecosystems where wolves live, wildland topics and human land use related to Wyoming.

Prey & Predation
Descriptions of prey animals and information on their relationship to wolves in Wyoming.

Join the International Wolf Center and world-renowned wolf biologist, Dave Mech for the adventure of a lifetime - tour Yellowstone National Park with the experts! Learn more