FAMILY TIES
Gulo gulo, a member of the Mustelid (weasel) family, which also includes otters, mink, pine martens and weasels (a.k.a. ermine or stoats)
SIZE AND APPEARANCE
Small eyes peer out from a broad, round head with crushing jaws and a powerful neck and shoulders. Wolverines are strong climbers and diggers, thanks to their long, curved, semiretractable claws. Unlike their sleek and long-bodied relatives, wolverines are stocky, thick and often mistaken for bears, though they are generally the size of a medium dog: a metre long, adult male wolverines weigh 12 to 18 kilograms; slightly shorter females average 8 to 12 kg. Their average lifespan is about 17 years.
FUR AND COLOURING
Wolverine fur is distinctive — rich and glossy, dark brown with two pale stripes originating at the nape and travelling along each flank to merge at the base of a long, bushy tail. White or orange patches are common on the chest or throat. Their toes, forepaws and legs may occasionally be marked with white. These unique markings allow biologists to identify and distinguish individuals.
SCAVENGERS
Despite a reputation for ferocity, wolverines are shy carnivores, generally more likely to scavenge than hunt, relying largely on leftovers from wolf and bear kills. Indeed, their fearsome teeth and jaws are adapted for crushing the frozen bones and meat found during winter scavenging. In summer, they sup on plants and berries as well.
BIG AND SMALL HUNTERS
Although they prefer pre-killed food, wolverines can be good hunters and are known to kill young and even adult caribou, deer and moose, especially if the prey is in poor physical condition, or if the wolverine has manoeuvred it into a vulnerable position (such as heavy deep snow). They’ll also eat smaller prey. Female wolverines with young (“kits”) will eat small mammals, such as marmots and ground squirrels. Snowshoe hares and beavers, where available, are a preferred and important food source. Once wolverines have food, they don’t like to share. They’ll hide it by burying it or stashing it in rock crevices or in trees. They’ll mark these sites with urine or musk, which is likely the reason for the nickname “skunk bear.”
STATUS
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada considers wolverines west of Hudson Bay to be “of special concern.” There have been no verified sightings in 40 years of an eastern population that once thrived in Quebec and Labrador.
LEARN MORE
Learn more about the wolverine at Hinterland Who’s Who, at hww.ca