MADISON, June 26 — Wisconsin’s gray wolf population has settled into what state biologists call a natural equilibrium, with the latest estimate putting the number at 1,162 wolves across 321 packs. The figures come from the Department of Natural Resources’ 2026 winter survey, released June 25 during a virtual meeting of its Wolf Advisory Committee. The 2026 estimate represents a 5% decline from the previous year and sits 3% below the five-year average.
Lydia Margenau, DNR wildlife research scientist, described it as a slight fluctuation around a mean that suggests the state’s wolf population has reached its biological carrying capacity. Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist, led the meeting and said the full 2026 wolf monitoring report is expected to be posted to the DNR’s website in the coming days.
The statistical confidence levels give a range of 1,026 to 1,307 wolves, and 287 to 359 packs. The estimate does not include wolves not associated with packs or those that have dispersed out of the state’s core wolf range. Specific to the five Wisconsin wolf management units, Zone 1 in the far north and northwest had 511 wolves.
Zone 2 in the northeast had 273. Zone 3 in the northwest had 126.
Zone 4 in the northcentral and northeast had 54. Zone 5 in the central forest zone had 191. Seven other wolves were not attributed to a zone.
Average pack sizes ranged from a low of 2.54 wolves in Zone 4 to a high of 4.34 in Zone 1. Pack territories averaged 54 square miles in Zones 1 through 4 but, similar to past years, 32 square miles in Zone 5, likely due to higher prey density in the central forest area, Margenau said. The DNR produces an annual report on wolves in the state, partly as a requirement to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The gray wolf in Wisconsin and most other states has been protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.
