North American States

Wolves inhabit 3 continents; North America, Asia, and Europe. In North America, there are two species of wolf; the gray wolf and the red wolf. Listed below are where wolves live throughout the US.

 

 

 

• ​Alaska--7,000-11,000 wolves. Wolves in Alaska infrequently encounter humans. However, Alaskan wolves still are hunted and trapped in the state. Hunting wolves is authorized in Alaska as they are considered fur-bearing animals.

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• Michigan--631 wolves. Michigan wolves are classified as a federally endangered species and were relisted in 2022. Currently, small packs reside in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

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• New Mexico--112 wolves. New Mexico is a state where the endangered Mexican wolf is currently being reintroduced under the SSP and SAFE programs.  Despite Mexican gray wolf populations steadily increasing; reaching 251 in Arizona, Mexico, and New Mexico, they are still very much an endangered species.

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• Arizona--84 wolves. Arizona is also a state where the endangered Mexican wolf is being reintroduced. Their reintroduction began in 1998 and is ongoing.

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• North Carolina--17 wolves. Critically endangered red wolves are federally protected under SSP and SAFE in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina. Red wolves are susceptible to modernized vehicle strikes which as called for the implantation of wildlife crossing safety. 

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• Oregon--178 wolves. Oregon wolves were delisted in 2021 but regained their protections in February of 2022. A famous wolf called OR-7 traveled over 1,000 miles across Oregon to California.

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• Wyoming--314 wolves.  Wolves in Wyoming are allowed to be hunted and are state-managed.

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• Wisconsin--972 wolves. Wolves in Wisconsin were delisted in January 2021 and relisted in February 2022. Wisconsin wildlife officials plan to maintain the wolf population by keeping it at around 1,000 wolves.

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• Idaho-- 1,543 wolves. Wolves in Wyoming are allowed to be hunted and are state-managed. 

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• Montana--1,087 wolves. Hunting wolves in Montana is also permitted; their populations are also state-managed.