JACKSON, Wyo. – A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist says Wyoming’s wolf population is thriving and growing in most of the state.
Federal biologist Mike Jimenez says the number of wolves ranging in Wyoming outside Yellowstone National Park grew from 178 animals, 30 packs and 16 breeding pairs last year to an estimated 200 in 30 packs with between 19 and 21 breeding pairs this year. That would be a 12 percent overall increase.
Final year-end numbers won’t be calculated for some time.
Federal protections for wolves have been removed in Idaho and Montana, while Wyoming wolves remain under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.