Wolverine is spotted in state for only second time in century

For only the second time in about a century, a wolverine sighting has been documented in California, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed Thursday.

The rare sightings of the wolverine happened during May on three occasions: in the eastern portion of the Sierra Nevada in Inyo National Forest in Inyo and Mono counties, and in Yosemite National Park in Tuolumne County, according to the department.

Previously, scientists documented a single wolverine in California from 2008 until 2018, after it was spotted in Truckee near the Tahoe National Forest in February 2008, according to wildlife officials. Prior to that, 1922 marked the last confirmation of a wolverine in California.

“Wolverines can travel great distances, making it likely that the recent sightings are all of the same animal,” state Fish and Wildlife environmental scientist Daniel Gammons said. “Because only two wolverines have been confirmed in California during the last 100 years, these latest detections are exciting.”

Experts believe that there are only 300 wolverines remaining in the contiguous United States.

Scientists believe that the most recent California sighting is a newly documented wolverine due to the life span of the animals typically being from 12 to 13 years. State experts will collaborate with the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service to gather genetic samples left behind by the wolverine.

Wolverines are the largest species of land-dwelling weasels, but their physical appearance often gets them confused with small bears, according to the National Park Service.

They are listed as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is studying the animal for listing as threatened in the lower 48 states under the federal Endangered Species Act.

State Fish and Wildlife officials encourage anyone who sees the animal to report it to the state Wildlife Incident Reporting website.

Experts believe there are only 300 wolverines remaining in the contiguous United States.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife The California Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the sighting ofa wolverine in the Sierra Nevada — only the second time over the past century that the species has been seen in the state.