State rankings

Wolf Population by State

Alaska has the highest Estimated Wolf Population (11,000), followed by Minnesota (2,919) and Idaho (1,253). North Carolina has the lowest (26).

Environment22 states · 3 metricsUpdated May 21, 2026Original page
2 sources
Estimated Wolf PopulationBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
14 of 51 states
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Estimated Wolf Population

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 14 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
262
Middle half 150 – 1,173
Average
1,386
14 states
Highest
11,000
Alaska
Lowest
26
North Carolina

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

22 states · # = rank by Estimated Wolf Population
#
1Alaska11,0002018Gray wolves. Original estimate was given as a range of 7,700-11,200., Population state managed as both a big game animal and a furbearer, management includes intensive predator control programs
2Minnesota2,9192023Gray wolves., Federally endangered. Federally delisted in January 2021 and relisted in February 2022
3Idaho1,2532024Gray wolves., Population state managed. Idaho’s wolf management plan includes an annual hunting season
4Wisconsin1,2002025Gray wolves., Federally endangered. Federally delisted in January 2021 and relisted in February 2022.
5Montana1,0912024Gray wolves., Population state managed. Montana's wolf management plan includes an annual harvest season.
6Michigan7622023Gray wolves., Federally endangered. Federally delisted in January 2021 and relisted in February 2022
7Washington2702026Gray wolves., Federally protected in the western two-thirds of the state,
8Wyoming2532025Gray wolves., Population state managed. (Federal appeals court upheld the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2012 decision to remove gray wolves in Wyoming from the endangered species list -March 2017).
9Oregon2302026Gray wolves., Wolves throughout Oregon were delisted from the state Endangered Species on November 9, 2015. Wolves in the western portion of the state lost federal protections in January 2021 and regained federal protections in February 2022.
10New Mexico1752025Mexican gray wolves.| Federally protected with exceptions as a nonessential experimental population.
11Arizona1422025Mexican gray wolves.| Status: Federally protected with exceptions as a nonessential experimental population.
12California552025Gray wolves.| Federally protected and State endangered
13Colorado322026Gray wolves., Federally and state endangered, managed as a 10(j) population
14North Carolina262026Red wolves., Federally protected with exceptions as a nonessential experimental population.
—New York——Wolves once existed throughout New York but were eliminated by European settlers. However, due to the close proximity of viable wolf populations in Canada, wolves may return to New York in the future.
—Tennessee——Red wolves once inhabited Tennessee but were eliminated by European settlers. Efforts to reintroduce them in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have failed thus far.
—Utah——Gray wolves once existed throughout Utah but were eliminated by European settlers. After the first collared wolf seen in decades was captured and returned to Yellowstone National Park, Utah created a wolf management plan in anticipation of their return.
—Nevada——Gray wolves once existed throughout Nevada but were eliminated by European settlers. However, due to nearby viable populations in Idaho and Wyoming, wolves may migrate into Nevada.
—New Hampshire——Wolves once existed throughout New Hampshire but were eliminated by European settlers.
—Maine——Wolves once existed throughout Maine but were eliminated by European settlers.
—South Dakota——Gray wolves once existed throughout South Dakota but were eliminated by European settlers. Currently no established wolf populations have been found in this state.
—North Dakota——Gray wolves once existed throughout North Dakota but were eliminated by European settlers. Occasional wolf sightings occur, but no breeding pairs or packs have been identified.

What correlates with Estimated Wolf Population?

Pearson r against 2,082 other state metrics sharing at least 10 states. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher Estimated Wolf Population tend to score higher on these

  1. Semi-Private RoomAssisted Living Costs by State
    r = +0.97 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot
  2. Estimated Wild Moose PopulationMoose Population by State
    r = +0.97 · very strong · n = 10
    Plot
  3. Minimum AgeCPA Requirements by State
    r = +0.96 · very strong · n = 10
    Plot
  4. Inland Water (mi²)States with the Most Water
    r = +0.96 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot
  5. Inland Water (km²)States with the Most Water
    r = +0.96 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot
  6. Number of LakesLakes by State
    r = +0.96 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher Estimated Wolf Population tend to score lower on these

  1. Public Land Change 1990-2018Public Land by State
    r = −0.91 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot
  2. NFIP Cost Difference From 2021Floods by State
    r = −0.82 · very strong · n = 13
    Plot
  3. NFIP Insurance Average 2022Floods by State
    r = −0.80 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot
  4. Bass Weight (Lbs)Largemouth Bass Record by State
    r = −0.80 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot
  5. TetanusVaccination Rates by State
    r = −0.79 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot
  6. Average High TemperatureAverage Temperatures by State
    r = −0.79 · very strong · n = 14
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest Estimated Wolf Population?
Alaska has the highest Estimated Wolf Population, at 11,000, followed by Minnesota (2,919) and Idaho (1,253).
Which state has the lowest Estimated Wolf Population?
North Carolina has the lowest Estimated Wolf Population, at 26.
What is the median Estimated Wolf Population across US states?
The median is 262 across the 14 US states with data.
Where does this wolf population by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: How many wild wolves are in the United States? -The Wolf Conservation Center; Unites States at a glance - International Wolf Center.