Yellowstone's Wolf Pups Have a Rough Year Again, but the Population Is Holding Steady

If you're hoping to see wolves in Yellowstone, here's the backdrop for this season. For the second year running, the packs produced few pups. About 20 pups had survived by early September 2026, according to the Jackson Hole News&Guide, well below the usual average of 37. Last year the count ran even lower, with just 17 survivors in 2025, a record low according to the same outlet.

This dip isn't a sign of disease. The causes point elsewhere, again according to the Jackson Hole News&Guide. They include the death of an alpha male, an inexperienced breeding female, and other factors that remain unexplained. As for the numbers, the population stood at 84 wolves in early 2026, 67 adults and 17 juveniles. The Wolf Project isn't raising any biological alarm and sees the group as naturally functional, the local paper reports.

For a traveler, the real story plays out pack by pack. The Wapiti Lake and Rescue Creek groups each counted seven surviving pups in early September, and the Mollie's Pack had five in July. So you'll come across fewer young wolves than in a normal year, but the chances of a sighting are still real. Here's some good news if you're patient. The Mollie's Pack is back in the park, in Pelican Valley, with its 2026 pups.

Our advice is the same as it is every season. Aim for dawn and dusk, bring binoculars or a spotting scope, and keep your distance. To plan the rest of your trip, you'll find our itineraries and viewing spots in the Yellowstone park guide. If you're pairing the visit with the south, take a look at our road trip itinerary that runs through the park.