OLYMPIA, Wash.— Washington’s wolf population increased by 20% in 2023, according to figures released today by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Even with this increase, wolf populations in the state have not met their recovery goals. Despite this the department is proposing to reduce state protections for wolves from endangered to sensitive.

“The department says reducing wolf protections would show it’s making progress towards recovery, but this report tells a different story,” said Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Real progress requires a continued commitment to provide strong protections to wolves so they can safely disperse into all three recovery regions and establish territories and families there.”

The state reported a minimum population of 260 wolves in 2023, marking a 20% rise from the reported minimum population of 216 in 2022. The number of Washington’s packs increased from 37 to 42, but breeding pairs decreased from 26 to 25 at the end of 2023. This marks the sixth straight year that growth was well below the 30% expected for a wolf population still in the early stages of recovery, and breeding populations of wolves currently inhabit only two of the state’s three recovery regions.

Today’s report shows that at least 36 wolves died in 2023. Of those, three were killed for livestock conflicts — two by the department and one by a livestock owner. Twenty-two died from tribal hunting by the Confederated Tribes of the Colville, which retain tribal treaty rights for hunting on their reservation and on ceded lands. Five wolves died from vehicle strikes and one was killed by a cougar. Of the remaining five known deaths, four remain under investigation and one died of unknown causes.

Washington’s wolf plan divides the state into three recovery regions with breeding pair population objectives designated for each. Currently, no breeding pairs have yet been established in the third recovery region, which encompasses the southern Cascades and north coast.

If the department succeeds in reducing state wolf protections the result would be greatly reduced fines and jail time for illegally killing a wolf, more permits to kill or injure wolves issued by the department to ranchers and fewer habitat protections.

“Even the state knows that some of Washington’s best wolf habitat is in the third recovery region in the western portions of the state,” said Weiss. “I’m pleased to see the agency greatly reduced its own killing of wolves this year but with 36 deaths, fewer breeding pairs and none at all in the third recovery region, wolves still need protection. Instead of bending to political pressure from wolf opponents the department should continue to focus on nonlethal prevention measures and education.”

The public can submit comments on the department’s proposal until midnight on May 6.