Yellowstone Wolves
Gray wolves returned to Yellowstone in 1995 after nearly 70 years; in January 2026 at least 84 lived in the park, in eight packs (NPS).
Image: NASA (ISS023-E-007925, March 21, 2010).
Last reviewed: 2 sources cited
Explain Like I'm 10
- Wolves disappeared from Yellowstone National Park for almost 70 years.
- In 1995, people brought wolves back.
- Scientists now study how wolves, elk and other animals live together again.
The Five W's of Yellowstone Wolves
Who
The National Park Service (NPS) manages and studies the park's wolves.
Source: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
What
Bringing back a top predator. Researchers track wolves with radio collars, cameras, howl recorders and DNA.
Source: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
When
Wolves were reintroduced in 1995, and the Winter Study has run every year since then.
Source: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
Where
Yellowstone National Park, at the core of a wolf population connected across the Greater Yellowstone A community of living things and the place they live, like a reef or a forest, all depending on each other. Glossary.
Source: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
Why
Monitoring shows how wolves affect other wildlife, prey and the wider food web.
Source: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
Connected Solutions
- Beavers, River Engineers Another animal that reshapes its home landscape.
Impact Statement
Natural solution · active
As of January 2026, at least 84 wolves in eight packs lived in Yellowstone National Park (NPS).
Source: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
For Further Information: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
Recorders placed around the park capture wolf howls, helping estimate wolf numbers in remote areas (NPS).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Yellowstone is one of the best places in the world to see wild wolves, and rangers teach visitors to watch them safely (NPS).
Source: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
For Nature
Wolves are apex predators, and NPS research looks at their effects on prey and the food web (NPS).
Source: National Park Service, Wolf management in Yellowstone
Support Yellowstone
Yellowstone Forever is the park's official nonprofit partner.
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