Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – December 2025

Two Whooping Cranes strike a pose on their wintering grounds in Gibson County, Indiana. Photo by Richard Vernier

Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In November, most cranes left Wisconsin on their southward migration! A huge thank you to the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Departments of Natural Resources of flyway states, the International Crane Foundation, and all the volunteers who help us keep track of the cranes throughout the year. We appreciate your contribution to the recovery of the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population. The International Crane Foundation produced this report.

Population Estimate

The current estimated population size is 68 (38 F, 27 M, 3 U). Fifteen of these 68 individuals are wild-hatched, and the rest are captive-reared. To the best of our knowledge, as of 1 December, there are at least 16 birds in Alabama, 24 in Indiana, two in Illinois, six in Kentucky, one in Tennessee, and four in Wisconsin. The locations of the remaining birds have not been confirmed in the last month. Their last known locations (in the past month) are on the map below.

Click here to view our interactive “Where are the Whoopers” map for more details, including bios on each crane.

2024 Cohort

W1-24 (U) was last observed in Gibson County, Indiana, in September.

24-24 (F) traveled from Green Lake County, Wisconsin, to Columbia County, Wisconsin.

25-24 (F) was last seen in Hamilton County, Florida, in December.

27-24 (M) was last seen in Hamilton County, Florida, in December.

28-24 (M) traveled from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, to Morgan County, Alabama.

29-24 (M) traveled from Marquette County, Wisconsin, to Morgan County, Alabama. He has been associating with nine other Whooping Cranes.

2025 Cohort

W1-25 (U) and parents W1-19 and 1-17 traveled from Portage County, Wisconsin, to Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County, Indiana. They have been associating with seven other Whooping Cranes.

30-25 (M) and 79-19 (F) traveled from Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, to Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Greene County, Indiana. They have been associating with eight other Whooping Cranes.

31-25 (F) traveled from Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, to Cherokee County, Alabama.

34-25 (F) traveled from Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, to Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Meigs County, Tennessee.

35-25 (F) and 32-25 (M) traveled from Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, to Jackson County, Indiana.

38-25 (F) traveled from Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Dodge County, Wisconsin, to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Morgan County, Alabama. She has been associating with pair 24-08 (F) and 13-02 (M).

36-25 (M) traveled from Green Lake County, Wisconsin, to Sauk County, Wisconsin.

Mortality and Long-term Missing

21-23 (F) was found dead in Juneau County, Wisconsin, in November, due to asphyxiation caused by a corn kernel.

37-25 (F) was found dead in Dodge County, Wisconsin, in November. Necropsy results are still pending.

7-17 (F) was found dead in Lee County, Illinois, in November, and the cause of death is unknown.

W9-23 (F) has not been seen since November 2024 and is now considered long-term missing. We have removed her from the population totals above.