Gray wolves once existed throughout Washington; however, removal began shortly after European settlement.They were extirpated
(removed) from Washington by the 1930’s through human persecution, with
the exception of a few individuals dispersing periodically into the
state since then.
In the summer of 2008, a breeding pair of wolves was radio-collared in western
Okanogan County in north-central Washington. The Okanogan County wolves
were determined through genetic testing to be consistent with coastal
British Columbia populations.
Biologists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are checking for the presence
of a wolf pack in northeast Pend Oreille County after a remote camera
captured images of an apparent male and female wolf together, and
genetic tests confirmed a male northwestern gray wolf is in the area.
Species
Common Name: gray wolf
Latin Name:
Canis lupus
Subspecies
Common Names: northwestern wolf, Rocky Mountain wolf
Latin Name:
Canis lupus occidentalis
Current Wolf Population, Trend, Status
Number of gray wolves: Minimal
Population trend: Increasing
Legal status: Federal protection with some exceptions
