Karmactive Staff
Conservation groups are urging New York to include wolves in its 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), following the lead of neighboring states that have already recognized wolves’ presence in the Northeast.
The SWAP, updated every 10 years, guides wildlife management in New York through 2035 and determines which species receive protection and funding. The plan’s public comment period closes September 20, giving advocates a final opportunity to influence the state’s approach to wolf conservation.
“Omitting wolves and other native carnivores from the wildlife plan sends the wrong message to New Yorkers,” said Christopher Amato, conservation director for Protect the Adirondacks. “This approach disregards their ecological importance and undermines efforts to restore a more balanced landscape.”
At least 11 wolves have been killed south of the St. Lawrence River since 1993, including three in New York. The most recent documented case occurred in December 2021, when a hunter shot an 85-pound wolf near Cooperstown, initially believing it was a large coyote.
DNA analysis from Trent University found the animal was ~98% wolf, while Princeton University’s testing showed ~96% wolf. The DEC acknowledged it was a wolf in September 2022 and confirmed it was a wild wolf in March 2023 after isotope analysis.
New York’s neighbors have taken a different approach. Maine and New Hampshire have already included wolves in their wildlife plans, and Vermont is expected to follow suit. This regional recognition reflects growing evidence that wolves are returning to their historic Northeast territory.
“Wolves have demonstrated time and again the ability and determination to return home to the Northeast,” said Nadia Steinzor of Project Coyote. The species once ranged widely across the region before being driven to near extinction.
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Conservationists point to New York’s proximity to Canadian wolf populations—just 60 miles from the border—and its abundant habitat and prey as reasons why wolves will continue to disperse into the state. The Adirondacks alone contains 6,000 square miles of suitable wolf habitat.
A key concern is the misidentification of wolves as coyotes. Eastern coyotes already possess some wolf genetics, making visual identification challenging. Hunters and trappers who mistake wolves for coyotes risk killing a federally protected endangered species.
In response, conservation organizations have supported state legislation requiring hunters to report killed wild canids and obtain DNA analysis for animals over 50 pounds. They also advocate for improved hunter education to help distinguish between wolves and coyotes.
If wolves are designated as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need, the DEC would gain access to federal funding through State Wildlife Grants for conservation measures. This designation could support monitoring, education, and protection efforts.
As the September 20 deadline approaches, the Northeast Wolf Recovery Alliance and other groups continue pressing for wolves to be included in the plan, arguing that New York should join its neighbors in acknowledging the species’ return and protecting its future in the region.
