Gray Wolf Conservation and Management

The gray wolf is an endangered species throughout Washington under state law, and under federal law in the western two-thirds of the state. Historically, wolves were found throughout most or all of Washington. They were extirpated (removed) from Washington by the 1930’s through targeted trapping and hunting, with the exception of a few individuals dispersing periodically into the state since then.

In recent years, wolf populations have re-established in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming through ongoing wolf-recovery programs. As wolves in these states increase in numbers and expand their range, they will be dispersing into Washington and establishing breeding populations here. Washington's first fully confirmed wolf pack in many years was discovered in Okanogan County in July 2008, and the second was found in Pend Oreille County in July 2009.

In response to the eventual return of wolves and the state management responsibility following federal delisting, (as well as state law (WAC 232-12-297) requirements), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) began developing a conservation and management plan for the species in 2006. WDFW Director Jeff Koenings appointed 18 citizens with a broad range of perspectives to a Wolf Working Group to advise WDFW in developing the plan.

The working group and WDFW staff met eight times during 2007 and 2008 (see Meetings) and public scoping meetings were held throughout the state in August 2007. A draft plan underwent scientific peer review in 2008. A revised draft was discussed Sept. 1-2, 2009 by the Wolf Working Group. Comments from that discussion are currently being added into the plan, and a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being developed to meet State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements. A 90-day public-review period will be conducted in fall 2009 and will include public meetings throughout the state, followed by a final working group meeting to complete the plan. The final plan will be presented to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission for consideration in 2010.

Save the date: Public Meetings

Public review of the WDFW Draft Wolf Conservation and Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as required under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), will begin with a series of public meetings in October and November, with a comment period continuing at least through Dec. 31, 2009.

The draft plan and draft EIS will be posted here as soon as possible.
Earlier versions of the plan are archived on this page but should not be the basis of comments during the public review.

Comments will be taken on-line through WDFW’s SEPA webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hab/sepa/sepa.htm, through postal mail to:

WDFW SEPA Desk,
600 Capitol Way N. Olympia,
WA 98501-1091,

and through the public meetings.

All of the following meetings will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m.