The annual report released by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife found that the wolf population is increasing despite a lethal removal of a pack in 2019.

OKANOGAN, Wash. — Editor's note: The above video aired at an earlier date.

The wolf population in Washington state increased by at least 19 animals in 2019, despite multiple lethal removals due to wolf-livestock conflict.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife on Monday estimated that the wolf population grew to an estimated 145 wolves in 26 packs. That compared to 126 wolves in 27 packs in 2018.

Ten of the packs WDFW monitored were documented as successful breeding pairs, but data was not collected on breeding pairs. Since the most recent report is a minimum count, the actual number of wolves, packs, and successful breeding pairs in Washington is undoubtedly higher.

"The population continuing to recover is good news for wolf conservation but it can also bring additional challenges. Last year was particularly tough for wolf-livestock conflict management,” said WDFW Director Kelly Susewind in a statement. "We are working with citizens and communities to strike a balance so both livestock producers and wolves can share the landscape and thrive in Washington.”

The increase comes after the state lethally removed a pack of wolves in response to attacks on livestock.

WDFW documented 21 wolf mortalities during 2019: one was killed by a cougar, one died of unknown causes, two were killed by landowners protecting livestock, one killed by a landowner due to a perceived threat to human safety, one is still under investigation, and six were legally harvested by tribal hunters. Nine wolves were lethally removed by the Department in 2019 in response to attacks on livestock.

Washington’s wolf population was virtually wiped out in the 1930s but the state documented a resident pack in Okanogan County in 2008.