Idaho Aims to Reduce Wolf Population to 500 Animals

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game reports that the state's wolf population fell to an estimated 1,129 animals in 2025, a decrease of 106 from the 2024 estimate of 1,235. This decline is part of an intentional effort to reduce the population, which has been trending downward since 2020 when it exceeded 1,650 animals.

To achieve these reductions, the Idaho Legislature and the Fish and Game Commission have expanded hunting and trapping seasons and approved additional killing methods over the last five years. State officials intend to lower the statewide population to approximately 500 animals to mitigate livestock injuries and deaths, which they report are also trending downward.

The department recently updated its tracking methods, replacing trail cameras with genetic analysis of teeth from killed wolves to estimate the population. While state officials maintain the effectiveness of these measures, wolf advocates have questioned the accuracy of the new population estimation methods.