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March 21, 2003
MT FW&P
The Legendary Wolverine
Brian Giddings, FWP Furbearer Coordinator
A creature of legend, the wolverine is also known as devil bear, carcajou, or woods devil in various parts of the country. Its scientific name, Gulo gulo, means glutton.
The wolverine has a thick body, short legs, short ears and a broad flat head. It varies in length from 36 to 44 inches. These animals are primarily scavengers and may consume large amounts of carrion, such as a dead mountain goat or moose. Like most carnivores, the wolverine has large teeth and powerful jaws for capturing and eating prey. A wolverine can easily excavate a tunnel through eight feet of snow to get at any frozen source of food. And, with its tremendous physical endurance, it may travel up to 40 miles a day in search of a meal.
Wolverines have nearly five-inch wide bear-like tracks with five toes, and often the non-retractable claws are evident in the track. They have a chevron-shaped footpad and an additional heel pad.
Wolverine are active year round. In winter months, a wolverine’s coat is very thick and the feet are covered with stiff hair to help the animal walk on the snow. Also, its fur does not accumulate frost.
Montana’s wolverine population appears to be stable and may be increasing slightly. To monitor the wolverine, wildlife biologists use winter track surveys, trapper harvest information, trapper logbooks, and the observations of biologists and wardens in the field.
Montana is unique in that it continues to provide abundant wolverine habitat. Though the species was virtually eliminated from Montana by the early 1900s, changes in predator control programs, including eliminating poison baits, has enabled the species to reestablish itself in the state during the past 70 years.
Snow track surveys and trapper harvest information indicate wolverines are present throughout most of our national forest lands, including areas with roads, logged landscapes and even high-use recreational areas. However, these creatures naturally prefer tracts of wild lands and it is reasonable to believe that preserving wilderness and roadless habitat, especially for den sites and rearing young, is key to the wolverine’s future.
Montana is the only state among the lower 48 to provide a wolverine trapping season for resident trappers. Surprisingly, the average yearly harvest of 10 animals has remained consistent over the past 25 years. Trappers and hunters must personally present the pelts of wolverine for tagging to a designated FWP employee in the trapping district where the animal was taken within five days of the harvest. This enables FWP to track the total harvest and the age, sex, and condition of every wolverine taken by a trapper.
Trapper Dave Dziak, of Warm Springs, described his experience of trying to harvest a wolverine to me a couple of years ago. He said the evidence from tracks in the snow revealed that a wolverine had come to investigate his trap set, climbed onto a large snow-covered boulder about 50 yards away, and must have spent a few minutes looking over the situation. Tracks then showed the wolverine’s decision was to leave the suspicious trap site and head back up the ridge.
Like most legends, wolverines achieved their status by remaining elusive. Trappers lucky enough to harvest a wolverine most often choose to have the animal mounted, preserving forever this rare encounter.
MT FW&P
The Legendary Wolverine
Brian Giddings, FWP Furbearer Coordinator
A creature of legend, the wolverine is also known as devil bear, carcajou, or woods devil in various parts of the country. Its scientific name, Gulo gulo, means glutton.
The wolverine has a thick body, short legs, short ears and a broad flat head. It varies in length from 36 to 44 inches. These animals are primarily scavengers and may consume large amounts of carrion, such as a dead mountain goat or moose. Like most carnivores, the wolverine has large teeth and powerful jaws for capturing and eating prey. A wolverine can easily excavate a tunnel through eight feet of snow to get at any frozen source of food. And, with its tremendous physical endurance, it may travel up to 40 miles a day in search of a meal.
Wolverines have nearly five-inch wide bear-like tracks with five toes, and often the non-retractable claws are evident in the track. They have a chevron-shaped footpad and an additional heel pad.
Wolverine are active year round. In winter months, a wolverine’s coat is very thick and the feet are covered with stiff hair to help the animal walk on the snow. Also, its fur does not accumulate frost.
Montana’s wolverine population appears to be stable and may be increasing slightly. To monitor the wolverine, wildlife biologists use winter track surveys, trapper harvest information, trapper logbooks, and the observations of biologists and wardens in the field.
Montana is unique in that it continues to provide abundant wolverine habitat. Though the species was virtually eliminated from Montana by the early 1900s, changes in predator control programs, including eliminating poison baits, has enabled the species to reestablish itself in the state during the past 70 years.
Snow track surveys and trapper harvest information indicate wolverines are present throughout most of our national forest lands, including areas with roads, logged landscapes and even high-use recreational areas. However, these creatures naturally prefer tracts of wild lands and it is reasonable to believe that preserving wilderness and roadless habitat, especially for den sites and rearing young, is key to the wolverine’s future.
Montana is the only state among the lower 48 to provide a wolverine trapping season for resident trappers. Surprisingly, the average yearly harvest of 10 animals has remained consistent over the past 25 years. Trappers and hunters must personally present the pelts of wolverine for tagging to a designated FWP employee in the trapping district where the animal was taken within five days of the harvest. This enables FWP to track the total harvest and the age, sex, and condition of every wolverine taken by a trapper.
Trapper Dave Dziak, of Warm Springs, described his experience of trying to harvest a wolverine to me a couple of years ago. He said the evidence from tracks in the snow revealed that a wolverine had come to investigate his trap set, climbed onto a large snow-covered boulder about 50 yards away, and must have spent a few minutes looking over the situation. Tracks then showed the wolverine’s decision was to leave the suspicious trap site and head back up the ridge.
Like most legends, wolverines achieved their status by remaining elusive. Trappers lucky enough to harvest a wolverine most often choose to have the animal mounted, preserving forever this rare encounter.
