Species of the Month: Wolverine

January’s Species of the Month is a tough little critter we associate with winter weather. It’s small but mighty, a ferocious little beast that gives its name to a comic book hero- the wolverine. Information this month once again comes from University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web.

Wolverine at Northwest Trek, Eatonville, WA

Scientific name: Gulo gulo

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Class: Mammalia (mammals)

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Range: Alaska and northern Canada, Sierras and Cascades of western US, Russia, and Scandanavia

Habitat: Alpine forests, tundra, open grasslands, above timberline.

Lifespan: 5-7 years

Diet: eggs, birds, scavenged carrion, mammals (including large mammals such as deer or elk that become stranded in snow)

Predators: wolves, cougars, bears, golden eagles

Conservation Status: No special protection despite very low populations

Other Information: Wolverines live in the cold north and are not bothered by heavy snow. Snow works to their advantage as it traps animals many times their size, making them an easy kill. They can move quickly, climb trees, and swim well. They are nature’s ultimate predator in a little package. The predators listed about are not likely to mess with a wolverine, usually only attacking a young one. Wolverines are hunted because they prey on fur-bearers and eat those caught in traps. They are also vandals- they will get into cabins, bite through canned food, and spray the inside.

Here is a link to a story from a Seattle news station about wolverine monitoring.