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                     Northwest Wildlife Online                       

Order Carnivora

Family Mustelidae: 

The Wolverine - Gulo gulo

Wolverine (Gulo gulo) If anybody in the country can lay claim to being a victim of bad press it is the wolverine photographed on the left.  A ferocious fighter when the need arises, wolverines are not the wanton killers they so often portrayed.  The nickname "Skunk Bear," however is well deserved - they will let you know all about scent glands.  The wolverine above is an adult female.  Note the enormous paws evident in the photo on the right.  Ideal adaptations for heavy snow. 

Vital stats:

Size:  Males can reach five feet in length and weigh 45 pounds, although half that size is the norm; females one half to three quarters that size.  (The picture above, taken at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is a female.)

Life Span: Average is 10 years

Reproduction:  2-5 young called kits; female usually produces one litter every other year in February or March.  Kits are blondish in color and darken as they age.  Wolverine females can delay implementation of sperm.  Mating normally occurs June through August.

Range:  Formerly throughout the Arctic circle and as far south as the upper Midwest.  Rare now in eastern Canada.  Generally confined to far north regions, but are found as far south as Minnesota, Montana, and into Idaho.  (In 2002 I believe I saw the carcass of a wolverine in northern Utah, but won't swear to it; the sighting was along a highway and I was in a car.  The smell and appearance was certainly characteristic of a wolverine.)

Food:  Wolverines are carnivores capable of attacking and killing deer, but its most common food is carrion which they can smell from great distances.  This frequently leads to clashes with bears, another carnivore with a taste for carcasses.

Appearance:  Very light colored at birth.  Wolverines darken with age, but the pelage ranges from a rich mink color to lighter shades and distinctive silver and blond fringes about the face and body.  Low slung and powerfully built.

    The largest member of the weasel family, Gulo gulo (from the French word for "glutton") wolverines are simply the most fascinating weasel in the world as well.  Their ferocious reputation is certainly earned, but generally unknown is the wolverine's marked propensity for play, especially when young.  Kits raised in captivity, as seen below, are as rambunctious as puppies and are right at home rough housing with their own kind or humans.  Recent observations have revealed surprisingly strong family bonds.

    Wolverines are fascinating animals to watch.  Non-stop bundles of curious energy they possess an exceptional sense of smell yet relatively poor eyesight.  These characteristics coupled with an enormous appetite seems to keep them perennially poking their sensitive nose in every nook and cranny imaginable.  It makes them immensely enjoyable to watch even in a captive setting.

    This weasel is a pungent creature with anal scent glands to rival that of a skunk and males mark territory frequently with urine.

The pictures of the wolverine kit below are courtesy of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, WA.

This is a pair of 6 week old wolverine kits born in March of 2007 at Northwest Trek.  Just makes you want to squeeze the little guys doesn't it?  They will remain playful and approachable for quite a while.  By the time they reach three or four months old, though, they are quite a handful and their playful nips are powerful.  Northwest Trek is developing a tremendous reputation for successfully breeding and raising these beautiful animals.

     For more in depth information on wolverines I recommend The Wolverine Foundation: http://www.wolverinefoundation.org/index.htm