Overview
General Information

The Gray Wolf, being a keystone predator, is an integral component of the ecosystems to which it typically belongs. The wide range of habitats in which wolves can thrive reflects their adaptability as a species, and includes temperate forests, mountains, tundra, taiga, and grasslands.

Current Listing Status

Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
03/11/1967 Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) Lower 48 States, except where delisted and where EXPN. Mexico.
01/12/1998 Southwest Region (Region 2) Mexican gray wolf, EXPN population
03/27/2006 Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region (Region 3) Western Great Lakes DPS
04/10/1978 Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region (Region 3) MN
03/28/2008 Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) Northern Rocky Mountain DPS

Listed population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Gray wolf 
  • Population location: U.S.A., conterminous (lower 48) States, except: (1) Where listed as an experimental population below; and (2) Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, eastern North Dakota (that portion north and east of the Missouri River upstream to Lake Sakakawea and east of the centerline of Highway 83 from Lake Sakakawea to the Canadian border), eastern South Dakota (that portion north and east of the Missouri River), northern Iowa, northern Illinois, and northern Indiana (those portions of IA, IL, and IN north of the centerline of Interstate Highway 80), and northwestern Ohio (that portion north of the centerline of Interstate Highway 80 and west of the Maumee River at Toledo). Mexico.
    Listing status:  Endangered
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington
    For more information, please see:  http://www.fws.gov/endangered/factsheets/gray_wolf_factsheet.pdf
  • Population location: U.S.A. (portions of AZ, NM and TX - see section 17.84(k))
    Listing status:  Experimental Population, Non-Essential
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
    For more information, please see:  http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/mexicanwolf/
  • Population location: Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment; Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan; the eastern half of North Dakota and South Dakota; the northern half of Iowa; the northern portions of Illinois and Iowa; and the northwestern portion of Ohio.
    Listing status:  Delisted Taxon-Recovered
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
    For more information, please see:  http://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/
  • Population location: U.S.A. (MN)
    Listing status:  Delisted Taxon-Recovered
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Michigan, Minnesota
    USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:   AGASSIZ NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, DETROIT LAKES WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, FERGUS FALLS WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, HAMDEN SLOUGH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, LITCHFIELD WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, RICE LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, RYDELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, TAMARAC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
    For more information, please see:  http://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/
  • Population location: Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf Distinct Population Segment; Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and north central Utah
    Listing status:  Under Review
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
    For more information, please see:  http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/

Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents

Date Citation Page Title

View All Federal Register Documents
04/10/2008 73 FR 19525 19526 Post Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
02/27/2008 73 FR 10513 10560 Final Rule Designating the Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolf as a Distinct Population Segment and Removing This Distinct Population Segment From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
08/07/2007 72 FR 44065 44069 Notice of Scoping Meetings and Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Socio-Economic Assessment for the Proposed Amendment of the Rule Establishing a Nonessential Experimental Population of the Arizona and New Mexico Population of the Gray Wolf (``Mexican Gray Wolf'')
07/06/2007 72 FR 36939 36942 Designating the Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolf as a Distinct Population Segment and Removing This Distinct Population Segment From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
07/06/2007 72 FR 36942 36949 Proposed Revision of Special Regulation for the Central Idaho and Yellowstone Area Nonessential Experimental Populations of Gray Wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains

Special Rule Publications

Date Citation Page Title
07/06/2007 72 FR 36942 36949 Proposed Revision of Special Regulation for the Central Idaho and Yellowstone Area Nonessential Experimental Populations of Gray Wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains
01/12/1998 63 FR 1752 1772 ETWP; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Gray Wolf in Arizona and New Mexico
05/01/1996 61 FR 19237 19248 ETWP; Proposed Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Gray Wolf in Arizona and New Mexico
12/12/1985 50 FR 50792 50793 Regulations Governing Gray Wolf in Minnesota; 50 FR 50792-50793
08/10/1983 48 FR 36256 36266 Regulations Governing Gray Wolf in Minn.; 48 FR 36256-36266
07/05/1978 43 FR 29019 29021 Proposed Regulations for the Eastern Timber Wolf
03/09/1978 43 FR 9607 9615 Reclassification of the Gray Wolf in the U.S. and Mexico with Determination of Critical Habitat in Michigan and Minnisota
06/09/1977 42 FR 29527 29532 Proposed Reclassification of Gray wolf in U.S. and Mexico,Proposed Critical Habitat, Michigan and Minnesota; 42 FR 29527 29532 (Canis lupus)
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Recovery Summary

Current Recovery Plan(s)
Plan Date Title Plan Status
08/03/1987 Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Plan Final Revision 1
09/15/1982 Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan Final

Other Recovery Documents
Doc Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/10/2008 73 FR 19525 19526 Post Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
  • Notice Doc. Availability, Final Post Delisting Monitoring Plan
    • 02/27/2008 73 FR 10513 10560 Final Rule Designating the Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolf as a Distinct Population Segment and Removing This Distinct Population Segment From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
  • Final Delisting, Recovered
  • Final Listing, Endangered
    • 07/06/2007 72 FR 36939 36942 Designating the Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolf as a Distinct Population Segment and Removing This Distinct Population Segment From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
  • Notice Public Hearing
  • Notice Reopen Comment
  • Proposed Delisting, Recovered
    • 06/04/2007 72 FR 30819 30820 Draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
  • Notice Comment Period for Monitoring Plan
  • Notice Doc. Availability, Draft Post Delisting Monitoring Plan
    • 03/29/2007 72 FR 14760 Designating the Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolf as a Distinct Population Segment and Removing This Distinct Population Segment From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
  • Notice Comment Period Extension
  • Notice Public Hearing
  • Proposed Delisting, Recovered
    • 02/08/2007 72 FR 6051 6103 Final Rule Designating the Western Great Lakes Populations of Gray Wolves as a Distinct Population Segment; Removing the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Final Rule
  • Final Deferred date
  • Final Delisting, Recovered
    • 02/08/2007 72 FR 6051 6103 Final Rule Designating the Western Great Lakes Populations of Gray Wolves as a Distinct Population Segment; Removing the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Final Rule
  • Final Deferred date
  • Final Delisting, Recovered
  • Final Listing, Endangered
    • 02/08/2007 72 FR 6105 6139 Designating the Northern Rocky Mountain Population of Gray Wolf as a Distinct Population Segment and Removing This Distinct Population Segment From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
  • Proposed Delisting, Recovered
  • Proposed Listing, Endangered
    • 03/27/2006 71 FR 15265 15305 Designating the Western Great Lakes Population of Gray Wolves as a Distinct Population Segment; Removing the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife: Proposed rule.
  • Proposed Delisting, Recovered
  • Proposed Listing
    • 07/21/2004 69 FR 43663 43692 Removing the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
  • Proposed Delisting, Recovered
    • 04/01/2003 68 FR 15803 15875 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule To Reclassify and Remove the Gray Wolf From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in Portions of the Conterminous United States; Establishment of Two Special Regulations for Threatened Gray Wolves; Final and Proposed Rules
  • Final Delisting, Taxonomic revision
    • 07/13/2000 65 FR 43449 43496 Proposal to Reclassify and Remove the Gray Wolf from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in Portions of the Conterminous United States; Proposal to Establish Three Special Regulations for Threatened Gray Wolves
  • Proposed Delisting, Taxonomic revision
    • 11/05/1999 64 FR 60453 60454 Availability of the Reassessment of the Interim Wolf Control Plan for the Northern Rocky Mountains
  • Notice Doc. Availability
    • 04/03/1997 62 FR 15915 15916 Notice of Availability of Record of Decision and Statement of Findings on the Environmental Impact Statement on Reintroduction of the Mexican Wolf to its Historic Range in the Southwestern United States
  • Notice Doc. Availability
    • 08/10/1994 59 FR 40921 Notice of Availability: Records of Decision and Statement of Findings for the Environmental Impact Statement on Reintroduction of the Gray Wolf to Yellowstone National Park and Central Idaho
  • Notice Doc. Availability
    • Delisting Documents
    Date Title
    06/04/2007 Draft Post Delisting Monitoring Plan

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    Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents

    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    03/09/1978 43 FR 9607 9615 Reclassification of the Gray Wolf in the U.S. and Mexico with Determination of Critical Habitat in Michigan and Minnisota Final Rule Active
    06/09/1977 42 FR 29527 29532 Proposed Reclassification of Gray wolf in U.S. and Mexico,Proposed Critical Habitat, Michigan and Minnesota; 42 FR 29527 29532 (Canis lupus) Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

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    Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP):
    HCP Plan Summaries HCP Plan Documents
    Cedar River Watershed HCP N/A
    City of Tacoma, Tacoma Water HCP N/A
    Plum Creek Timber I-90 HCP N/A
    Plum Creek Timber I-90 Land Exchange N/A
    Washington Dept. Natural Resources Forest Lands HCP N/A
    West Fork Timber HCP (formerly Murray Pacific) N/A

    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA):
    SHA Plan Summaries SHA Plan Documents
    Paterson, Thomas W. and Caroline H. (Spur Ranch) N/A

    Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA):

    No Candidate Conservation Agreements exist for the Gray wolf.

    Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA):

    No Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances exist for the Gray wolf.

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    Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings

    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    08/01/2006 71 FR 43410 43432 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding on a Petition To Establish the Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf Population (Canis lupus) as a Distinct Population Segment To Remove the Northern Rocky Mountain Gray Wolf Distinct Population Segment From the List of Endangered and Threatened Species
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Not warranted
    • 12/09/2005 70 FR 73190 73193 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Delist the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) in Nevada
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 10/26/2005 70 FR 61770 61775 90-day Finding on Petitions to Establish the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment of Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) and to Remove the Gray Wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species:Substantial
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial
    • 10/19/1998 63 FR 55839 ETWP; 90-Day Finding for a Petition To Delist Gray Wolves in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 11/30/1990 55 FR 49656 49659 ETWP; Notice of a 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Delist the Canis lupus (Gray Wolf); 55 FR 49656 49659
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial


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    Life History


    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.


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    Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
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