What is the conservation status of the gray wolf globally?

The gray wolf's global conservation status is Least Concern. The International Union for Conservation of Nature uses this category because the species remains widespread and its overall global population is considered sufficiently large and stable compared with species facing a higher extinction risk.

That label does not mean wolves are safe everywhere. Gray wolves have disappeared from large parts of their historic range, including areas of Western Europe, the British Isles, Japan, Mexico, and the contiguous United States. Habitat fragmentation, persecution, prey depletion, livestock conflicts, and vehicle collisions continue to threaten local populations.

Conservation status is assessed globally, while individual countries, subspecies, and regional populations may receive much more serious classifications or legal protection. For example, some isolated wolf populations are endangered even though the species as a whole is not.

Legal protection and reintroduction programs have helped wolves return to parts of their former range since the late 20th century. The species is also listed under CITES, which regulates international trade in wolves and their parts. Least Concern therefore describes the global species-level picture, not every local population.