International Wolf Center
Teaching the World About Wolves
Wild Kids!
Educators
Basic Wolf Information
Wolves of the World

LEARN

Wolves of the World

Gray Wolf Population Trends in the Contiguous United States

Estimated trends in the abundance of free ranging gray wolves in the lower 48 United States (1963 to present). Data from published literature or official agency records. Sources are available from the International Wolf Center upon request

a

Year
MinnesotaWisconsinMichiganIsle
Royale
N.W.
Montana
Greater
Yellowstone
Central
Idaho
ArizonaNew Mexico
1963
350-700
..
20
..


1964..
25





1965


28





1966


23





1967


26





1968


16





1969


17





1970
750
0

18





1971..
20





1972
736 - 950


23





1973
500 - 1000


24





1974.

30





1975


41





1976
1000 - 1200


44





1977.

34





1978


40





1979
1235


43
1




1980.
25

50
.



1981
21

30





1982
27

14





1983
19

23





1984
17

24





1985
15

22
14




1986
16

20
18




1987
18

16
26




1988
28

12
31




1989
1521
31

12
30




1990.
34
6
15
48




1991
40
17
12
42




1992
45
21
12
59




1993
40
30
13
88




1994
57
57
17
64




1995
83
80
16
70
14
15
.
1996
2000-2200
99
116
22
82
43
30 - 40


1997.
148
112
24
75
54
68 - 71


1998
2450
178
140
14
75
80 - 85
70 - 75
11
.
1999.
205
174
25
65
116b
122b
6b

2000
248
216
29
63
118
141
12
9
2001
2600d
251
249
19
107
140
185
29e
3e
2002.
320
280
17
84
218
261
12f
7f
2003
335-354
321
19
92
301
368
17f
6f
2004
3020
400
360
29
59
324
422
12fg
5fg
2005
3020a
425a
405a
30a
93
294
525h
15g
14g
2006. 465 434 30 159314 673
35-49i 35-49i
2007. 540-577
509
21 159371 713 59i 59i

a = Estimates made during the preceding winter unless noted otherwise.
b = Estimates made during preceding fall.
c =
d = Estimates based on 1997-98 survey numbers and 4.5% population growth since that time.
e = Numbers as of August 2001.
f = Numbers of collared wolves as of April of the year.
g= Total number of Mexican wolves in the wild is 50.
h= Estimate out of 500-550 wolves (USFWS).
i = Shared population between Arizona and New Mexico.