Research: Wolves in Denali

 

NPS Photo

The research that Adolph Murie began in 1939 continues to this day, making Denali’s wolves one of the longest-studied wild wolf populations in the world. Current research efforts now involve radio collaring wolves from each wolf pack living within the park in order to locate them within the vast landscape of Denali by homing in on each collar’s radio signal.

In order to collar wolves, biologists dart them with tranquilizers from a helicopter. Once a selected wolf is sedated, biologists take detailed measurements, check for signs of disease or injury, and fit the wolf with a collar. The wolf can then be located by the collar’s radio signal from a small aircraft or from the ground. Radio collared wolves enable biologists to monitor wolf pack activities and movements and to also obtain pack and population counts. This information is used to expand our understanding of wolves and their roles in ecosystems by providing data on the status, health, and trends of the Denali wolf population over time.

Annual Reports

• 2024 Annual Report
• 2023 Annual Report
• 2022 Annual Report
• 2021 Annual Report
• 2020 Annual Report
• 2019 Annual Report
• 2018 Annual Report
• 2017 Annual Report
• 2016 Annual Report

 

Wolf Population Data

Since 1986, surveys in spring and fall each year count the number of wolves observed in the park, north of the Alaska Range. Because lone and dispersing wolves not traveling with monitored packs are unlikely to be detected, the count is adjusted by adding a standard percentage of lone and dispersing wolves. The adjusted count together with the area surveyed that year produces a density estimate of wolves per 1000 square kilometers. Applying this density estimate to the monitored area produces a population estimate.

Wolf population data in denali since 1986

Year	Season	Number of Packs Monitored	Wolves Counted	Average Pack Size	Density (wolves per 1000 square km)	Estimated Wolf Population

Download This Dataset

 

Long Term Wolf Monitoring in Denali

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  History of Wolf Monitoring in the Park

  Since 1986, biologists have monitored wolf populations in Denali. Learn more about why this project is so unique.

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  Pack Narratives

  Discover the stories of the individual packs in Denali.

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  Identifying Wolves

  Learn how park biologists use trail camera photos to identify individual wolves.

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  Wolf Sighting Index

  How often do observers on westbound trips to Eielson Visitor Center see wolves in a given year?

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  Frequently Asked Questions About Wolves

  Read frequently asked questions about wolves.

 

 

Wolf Scholarship

 

Detailed Bibliography of Wolf-Related Research and Scholarship

Source: NPS DataStore Collection 3730 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.