Month: October 2021

The outlook for the recovery of Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) is not fully known. As the gray wolves’ reintroduction is experimental in many capacities, the monitoring and take rules are also experimental in accommodating ranchers and those who may be affected by gray wolves (Archibald). With a clear lack of agreement between those looking to reintroduce the wolves and residents of the areas, that’s where the recovery reaches many snags. With how the recovery in Yellowstone was able to bloom from 31 to over 600, we know wolves when reintroduced to their habitat can gain back in numbers, however when others are ready to take these wolves our knowledge gets much murkier. With so much back and forth between these groups including ranchers and the FWS, while wolf numbers are better they still only remain in about 10% of their historic range which can affect genetic sustainability (Center for Biological Diversity). Like so many places wolves have lost protection in recent years, the gray wolf recovery is extremely broken up region by region as the west has created protections state by state like California meanwhile in places like the midwest, states like Minnesota are having state-mandated wolf hunting seasons. The potential to gain back the wolf population and biodiversity it helps bring is clearly possible, but as these states and areas look to still hunt and take away regulations from this creature and separate it region by region the outlook becomes much different.

America’s Gray Wolves. America’s Gray Wolves: A Long Road to Recovery. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/gray_wolves/.
Archibald, C. J. (1970, January 1). Overview of the recovery of the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act. Animal Law Legal Center. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.animallaw.info/article/overview-recovery-gray-wolf-under-endangered-species-act.

After hunting nearly forced the gray wolf (Canis lupus) to extinction in North America, the species is currently present within the Great Lakes, Northern Rocky Mountains (NRM), California, and the Pacific Northwest (defenders.org). Worldwide, there are approximately 200,000-250,000 individuals. Within Canada and the U.S. there are over 65,000 individuals with more than 85% found in Canadian territories. The U.S. population is between 13,400-16,900 individuals who are concentrated in Minnesota and Alaska (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2021). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently monitoring five populations of gray wolf; two of these populations have been delisted due to recovery, while the others are currently under review (Fish and Wildlife Service). 

Additional populations of the gray wolf can be found in Europe (approximately 17,00 individuals) and Asia (approximately 81,500 individuals) (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2021). Gray wolf populations located within the European Union (EU) have been designated as Least Concern but are still protected under the Ben Convention, EU Habitats Directive, and fully protected in Norway (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance 2021).

Site Citations

De La Ville, N., Cousins, S., & Bird, C. (1998). Habitat suitability analysis using logistic regression and GIS to outline potential areas for conservation of the grey wolf (Canis lupus). Innovations In GIS 5, 213–223. https://doi.org/10.1201/b16831-28   

Gray Wolf. Defenders of Wildlife. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://defenders.org/wildlife/gray-wolf. 

Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). SN bighorn sheep. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.sierraforestlegacy.org/FC_SierraNevadaWildlifeRisk/GrayWolf.php.   

“U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus).” 2007. US Fish and Wildlife Service. www.oregonwild.org/sites/default/files/pdf-files/Gray_Wolf_Fact_Sheet_USFWS.pdf.   

“Wolves in Oregon.” ODFW Gray Wolves, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2021. www.dfw.state.or.us/Wolves/index.asp. 

Fish and Wildlife Service. 2009. Final rule to identify the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolf as a distinct population segment and to revise the list of endangered and threatened wildlife. Federal Register 74:15123–15188. 

San Diego Zoo Global Library staff. (2021, March 9). Gray Wolf (canis lupus) fact sheet: Population & Conservation Status. LibGuides. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/graywolf/population-conservation. 

Species profile. ECOS. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/4488.