Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 27 Its scientific name—Gulo gulo, Latin for glutton—reflects its striking character as a ferocious predator that can contend with prey many times its size. Stories tell of the 30-pound wolverine successfully hunting injured caribou and chasing grizzlies away from their kill, though during the summer months these animals most commonly feed on small mammals such as rabbits or rodents, as well as plants and berries. Unlike a bear, the wolverine remains active throughout the winter months, opportunistically feeding on carrion, such as the winter-killed carcasses of deer and elk. Due to nearly exclusive winter scavenging, the wolverine is constantly on the move while snow is on the ground. Males might traverse a home range of up to 500 square-miles, while females roam a roughly 300-square-mile area, covering as much as 20 miles in a single day. Wolverines are quite territorial, and while a male might share an area with another female, wolverines of the same sex rarely live in proximity. Due to their large home ranges and territoriality, wolver- ines live in low densities at high elevations throughout the world, from the U.S. and Canada to the Nordic countries of Europe, and throughout Russia and Siberia. ey are naturally rare beasts, often recognized as a symbol of wilderness for the remote places in which they live. Reproduction is slow for the wolverine. Females of reproduc- tive age—about two- or three-years-old—will den in the snow in late winter or early spring in order to give birth to an average of two or three kits, though usually only one survives to adulthood. Born white and with closed eyes, they call this natal den home for up to 10 weeks, at which time they begin to roam, following their mother. Wolverines typically live for seven to 12 years. Historically, wolverines were trapped for their thick, frost-resistant fur, which may be used to line and trim parkas and other garments. Excessive trapping and early 1900s practices that targeted the reduc- tion of predators by poison led to a decline in wolverine populations in the U.S. However, with conservative management, wolverines RECLUSE OF THE MOUNTAINS O NE PART VICIOUS BEAST, ONE PART SNOW-BOUND LEGEND, THE WOLVERINE IS A POWERFUL CREATURE THAT LIVES IN WESTERN MONTANA'S HIGH MOUNTAINS. is animal is a recluse by nature and a sighting in the wild is nothing short of a marvel. e wolverine, while somewhat resembling a grizzly bear in both behavior and range, is the largest land-dwelling member of the carnivorous mustelid family, and has close relations to the badger, fisher, river otter, and ferret. by JESSIANNE CASTLE photos by KALAN BAUGHAN Montana's Wolverine

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