Wolverine

This article is about the animal. For the Marvel Comics character, see . For alternate meanings, see .

Wolverine Temporal range: –recent, 2.588–0 ↓ () Kingdom:Phylum:Class:Order:Family:Genus:Species:G. guloGulo gulo (, )SubspeciesAmerican wolverine (G. g. luscus) Eurasian wolverine (G. g. gulo)

Wolverine rangesMustela gulo Linnaeus, 1758 Ursus luscus Linnaeus, 1758

The wolverine () (also spelled wolverene), Gulo gulo (Gulo is for ""), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch (from , kwiihkwahaacheew), is the largest land-dwelling of the family . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small than other mustelids. A solitary animal, it has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size, with the documented ability to kill prey many times larger than itself.

The wolverine is found primarily in remote reaches of the Northern and and of the , with the greatest numbers in , the of , the mainland of Europe, and throughout western Russia and . Its population has steadily declined since the 19th century owing to , range reduction and . The wolverine is now essentially absent from the southern end of its European range.

Contents Taxonomy[] Wolverine skull from the of at the Genetic evidence suggests that the wolverine is most closely related to the and , all of which shared a Eurasian ancestor.

Within the Gulo gulo species, a clear separation occurs between two : the form Gulo gulo gulo and the form G. g. luscus. Some authors had described as many as four additional North American subspecies, including ones limited to (G. g. vancouverensis) and the in Alaska (G. g. katschemakensis). However, the most currently accepted taxonomy recognizes either the two continental or G. gulo as a single taxon.

Recently compiled genetic evidence suggests most of North America's wolverines are descended from a single source, likely originating from during the last glaciation and rapidly expanding thereafter, though considerable uncertainty to this conclusion is due to the difficulty of collecting samples in the extremely depleted southern extent of the range.

Physical characteristics[] Skull, as illustrated by N.N. Kondakov Skeleton, the wolverine is a stocky and muscular animal. With short legs, broad and rounded head, small eyes and short rounded ears, it more closely resembles a bear than it does other mustelids. Though its legs are short, its large, five-toed paws with crampon-like claws and enable them to climb up and over steep cliffs, trees and snow-covered peaks with relative ease.

The adult wolverine is about the size of a medium dog, with a length usually ranging from 65–107 cm (26–42 in), a tail of 17–26 cm (61⁄2–10 in), and a weight of 5.5–25 kg (12–55 lb), though exceptionally large males can weigh up to 32 kg (71 lb). Another outsized specimen was reported to scale approximately 35 kg (77 lb). The males are as much as 30% larger than the females and can be twice the females' weight. According to some sources, Eurasian wolverines are claimed to be larger and heavier than North American with average weights in excess of 20 kg (44 lb) but this may refer more specifically to areas such as , as data from European wolverines shows they are typically around the same size as their American counterparts. The average weight of female wolverines from a study in the of was 10.1 kg (22 lb 4 oz) and that of males 15.3 kg (33 lb 12 oz). In a study from , the median weight of ten males was 16.7 kg (36 lb 13 oz) while the average of two females was 9.6 kg (21 lb 3 oz). In , the mean weight of males and females was 13.6 kg (30 lb 0 oz) and 9.9 kg (21 lb 13 oz). The average weights of wolverines were notably lower in a study from the , averaging 7.3 kg (16 lb 1 oz) in females and 11.3 kg (24 lb 15 oz) in males, perhaps because these animals from a "harvest population" had low fat deposits. In , the average weight was claimed as 11 to 12.6 kg (24 lb 4 oz to 27 lb 12 oz). The average weight of male and female wolverines from was listed as 14.6 kg (32 lb 3 oz) and 10 kg (22 lb). Shoulder height is reported from 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in). It is the largest of terrestrial mustelids; only the marine-dwelling , the of the Amazon basin and the semi-aquatic are larger, while the may reach a similar body mass, especially in autumn.

Wolverines have thick, dark, oily fur which is highly , making it resistant to frost. This has led to its traditional popularity among hunters and trappers as a lining in jackets and in Arctic conditions. A light-silvery facial mask is distinct in some individuals, and a pale buff stripe runs laterally from the shoulders along the side and crossing the rump just above a 25–35 cm (10–14 in) bushy tail. Some individuals display prominent white hair patches on their throats or chests.

Like many other mustelids, it has potent used for and sexual signaling. The pungent odor has given rise to the nicknames "skunk bear" and "nasty cat." Wolverines, like other , possess a special upper molar in the back of the mouth that is rotated 90 degrees, towards the inside of the mouth. This special characteristic allows wolverines to tear off meat from prey or carrion that has been frozen solid.

Behavior[] Video of a wolverine in the Helsinki ZooDiet and hunting[] Wolverines are considered to be primarily . A majority of the wolverine's sustenance is derived from , on which it depends almost exclusively in winter and early spring. Wolverines may find carrion themselves, feed on it after the predator (often, a pack of wolves) has finished, or simply take it from another predator. Wolverines are also known to follow wolf and lynx trails, purportedly with the intent of scavenging the remains of their kills. Whether eating live prey or carrion, the wolverine's feeding style appears voracious, leading to the nickname of "glutton" (also the basis of the scientific name). However, this feeding style is believed to be an adaptation to food scarcity, especially in winter.

The wolverine is also a powerful and versatile predator. Prey mainly consists of small to medium-sized mammals, but the wolverine has been recorded killing prey such as adult deer that are many times larger than itself. Prey species include , , , , , , , , , mice, rats, , , , , , , sheep, goats, cattle, , , and . Smaller predators are occasionally preyed on, including , , foxes, , , and and pups. Wolverines have also been known to kill in the of . Wolverines often pursue live prey that are relatively easy to obtain, including animals caught in traps, newborn mammals, and deer (including adult moose and elk) when they are weakened by winter or immobilized by heavy snow. Their diets are sometimes supplemented by birds' eggs, birds (especially ), , , insect larvae, and .

Wolverines inhabiting the (specifically, ) hunt more actively than their North American relatives. This may be because competing predator populations in Eurasia are not as dense, making it more practical for the wolverine to hunt for itself than to wait for another animal to make a kill and then try to snatch it. They often feed on carrion left by , so changes in wolf populations may affect the population of wolverines. They are also known on occasion to eat plant material.

Wolverines frequently their food during times of plenty. This is of particular importance to females in the winter and early spring, a time when food is scarce.

Natural enemies[] Wolves are thought to be the wolverine's most important natural predator, with the arrival of wolves to a wolverine's territory presumably leading the latter to abandon the area. Armed with powerful jaws, sharp claws, and a thick hide, wolverines, like most mustelids, are remarkably strong for their size. They may defend against larger or more numerous such as wolves or bears. By far, their most serious predator is the , with an extensive record of wolverine fatalities attributed to wolves in both North America and Eurasia. Another predator (less frequent) is the . At least one account reported a wolverine's apparent attempt to steal a kill from a , although the bear won what was ultimately a fatal contest for the wolverine. There are a few accounts of killing and consuming wolverines as well and, although also reported at times to be chased off prey, in some areas such as , wolverines seemed to try to actively avoid encounters with grizzly bears as they have been reported in areas where wolves start hunting them. In another account, a wolverine was claimed to have killed an adult but this account may be dubious.

Mating and reproduction[] Successful males will form lifetime relationships with two or three females, which they will visit occasionally, while other males are left without a mate. Mating season is in the summer, but the actual implantation of the embryo (blastocyst) in the is until early winter, delaying the development of the . Females will often not produce young if food is scarce. The gestation period is 30–50 days, and litters of typically two or three young ("kits") are born in the spring. Kits develop rapidly, reaching adult size within the first year. The typical longevity of a wolverine in captivity is around 15 to 17 years, but in the wild the average lifespan is more likely between 8 and 10 years. Fathers make visits to their offspring until they are weaned at 10 weeks of age; also, once the young are about six months old, some reconnect with their fathers and travel together for a time.

Distribution[] Wolverine on rocky terrain Wolverine tracks on Wolverines live primarily in isolated , boreal, and regions of northern Canada, , , and ; they are also native to , the countries, the , northeast China and Mongolia. In the , wolverines were sighted near Winnemucca Lake in spring 1995 and at Toe Jam Lake north of the Yosemite border in 1996; and later photographed by baited cameras, including in 2008 and 2009, near . According to a publication, as of 2014 "wolverines are found in the in Washington and the Northern Rocky Mountains in Idaho, Montana, Oregon (), and Wyoming. Individual wolverines have also moved into historic range in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado, but have not established breeding populations in these areas."

In 2004, the first confirmed sighting of a wolverine in Michigan since the early 19th century took place, when a wildlife biologist photographed a wolverine in . The specimen was found dead at the Minden City State Game Area in in 2010; no further wolverines have been spotted in Michigan.

Most wolverines live in Canada and Alaska.

Conservation[] The world's total wolverine population is not known. The animal exhibits a low population density and requires a very large home range. The wolverine is listed by the IUCN as Least Concern because of its "wide distribution, remaining large populations, and the unlikelihood that it is in decline at a rate fast enough to trigger even Near Threatened".

The range of a male wolverine can be more than 620 km2 (240 mi2), encompassing the ranges of several females which have smaller home ranges of roughly 130–260 km2 (50–100 mi2). Adult wolverines try for the most part to keep nonoverlapping ranges with adults of the same sex. Radio tracking suggests an animal can range hundreds of miles in a few months.

Female wolverines burrow into snow in February to create a den, which is used until weaning in mid-May. Areas inhabited nonseasonally by wolverines are thus restricted to zones with late-spring . This fact has led to concern that will shrink the ranges of wolverine populations.

This requirement for large territories brings wolverines into conflict with human development, and hunting and trapping further reduce their numbers, causing them to disappear from large parts of their former range; attempts to have them declared an endangered species have met with little success. In February 2013, the proposed giving protections to the wolverine due to its winter in the northern Rockies diminishing. This was as a result of a lawsuit brought by the and .

The reported in June 2009 that a wolverine researchers had been tracking for almost three months had crossed into northern . Society officials had tagged the young male wolverine in near , and it had traveled southward for about 500 miles. It was the first wolverine seen in Colorado since 1919, and its appearance was also confirmed by the . In May 2016 the same wolverine was killed by a cattle ranch-hand in North Dakota, ending a >800-mile trip by this lone male wolverine, dubbed M-56. This was the first verified sighting of a Wolverine in North Dakota in 150 years. In February 2014, a wolverine was seen in Utah, the first confirmed sighting in that state in 30 years.

CountryPopulation in surveyed areaSurveyed areaYearState of populationSweden265+1995–97StableNorway150+ plateau and North1995–97 DeclineNorway and Sweden – overall1065Overall2012IncreaseFinland155–170 and North2008StableFinland – overall165-175Overall2012 IncreaseRussia15001970, 1990,DeclineRussia –885–1990–Russia –4101990LimitedRussia –160Hunting Districts1990DeclineUnited States – Unknown, 1998DeclineUnited States – 3.0 (± 0.4 SE) wolverines/1,000 km22004–United States – 28–52, , 1989–2007UnknownUnited States – California32008UnknownCanada –9.7 (± 0.6 SE) wolverines/1,000 km22004–Canada – Unclear – Peawanuck2004Stable to expandingCanada – overall15,000–19,000Overall–StableIn captivity[] Captive at the Kristiansand Zoo, NorwayAround a hundred wolverines are held in zoos across North America and Europe, and they have been bred in captivity, but only with difficulty and high infant mortality.

Name[] The wolverine's questionable reputation as an insatiable glutton (reflected in the Latin genus name Gulo) may be in part due to a . The less common name for the animal in , fjellfross, meaning "mountain cat", is thought to have worked its way into German as Vielfraß, which means "glutton" (literally "devours much"). Its name in other West Germanic languages is similar (e.g. : veelvraat ).

The Finnish name is ahma, derived from ahmatti, which is translated as "glutton". Similarly, the name is ahm, with the equivalent meaning to the Finnish name. In is ernis, in —tinis or āmrija.

The (rosomakha) and the Polish and name rosomák seem to be borrowed from the Finnish rasva-maha (fat belly). Similarly, the Hungarian name is rozsomák or torkosborz which means "gluttonous badger".

In French-speaking parts of Canada, the wolverine is referred to as carcajou, borrowed from the or kuàkuàtsheu. However, in France, the wolverine's name is glouton (glutton).

Purported gluttony is reflected neither in the English name wolverine nor in the names used in . The English word wolverine (alteration of the earlier form, wolvering, of uncertain origin) probably implies "a little wolf". The name in , and , jarfr, lives on in the regular name jarfi, regular Norwegian name jerv, regular Swedish name järv and regular Danish name jærv.

In culture[] The , when wolverines were still found in southern FranceMany cities, teams, and organizations use the wolverine as a mascot. For example, the US state of is, by tradition, known as "the Wolverine State", and the takes the animal as its mascot. There have also been professional and clubs called the "Wolverines". The association is well and long established: for example, many Detroiters volunteered to fight during the and , who led the , called them the "Wolverines". The origins of this association are obscure; it may derive from a busy trade in wolverine furs in in the 18th century or may recall a disparagement intended to compare early settlers in Michigan with the vicious mammal. Wolverines are, however, extremely rare in Michigan. A sighting in February 2004 near was the first confirmed sighting in Michigan in 200 years. The animal was found dead in 2010.

character was given the name "Wolverine" because of his short stature, keen animal senses, and ferocity.

The wolverine is prevalent in stories and oral history from various and figures prominently in the mythology of the people of eastern and . The wolverine is known as Kuekuatsheu, a conniving trickster who created the world. The story of the formation of the Innu world begins long ago when Kuekuatsheu built a big boat similar to and put all the various animal species in it. There was a great deal of rain, and the land was flooded. He told the to dive into the water to retrieve some mud and rocks which he mixed together to create an island, which is the world that we presently inhabit along with all the animals. Many tales of Kuekuatsheu are often humorous and irreverent and include crude references to bodily functions. Some Northeastern tribes, such as the and , refer to the wolverine as Lox, who usually appears in tales as a trickster and thief (although generally more dangerous than its Innu counterpart) and is often depicted as a companion to the . Similarly, the , a group of the -speaking natives of northwestern Canada, have many stories of the wolverine as a trickster and cultural transformer much like the in the tradition or in traditions.

Gallery[] References[] External links[] has information related to Wikimedia Commons has media related to .Extant speciesSuborder (Mongooses) (Hyenas)Large family listed belowLarge family listed belowSmall family listed belowFamily Family (Asiatic linsangs) (Genets)Family Suborder (cont. below) (Bears) () (Hog-nosed skunks) (Spotted skunks) (Raccoons, coatis, olingos) (Olingos) ( inclusive) ( inclusive)Suborder (cont. above) (Eared seals) (includes and ) ( inclusive) ( inclusive) (Earless seals) ( inclusive) (Elephant seals)Large family listed belowLarge family listed belowFamily (includes ) ()Family (Ferret-badgers) (Martins and wolverines) (Martens) (African polecats and grisons) (Otters) (Eurasian badgers)

(Weasels and minks) ( and )

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Your browser does not support iframes.Plan your next great adventureImage Via: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rmontage/by/May 21, 2020 Canada spans nearly 9.9 million square kilometres. We share this home with an amazing array of wildlife. Explore encourages North Americans to "live the adventure" while respecting wild spaces and all that live within them, from the tiniest creepy-crawlies to larger mammals.

Here are seven predators that live in Canada.

Credit: Photo by onPolar bear Approximately live in Canada. They can live 20 to 30 years and spend most of their time on sea ice. Adult males can grow up to 2.5 metres tall and weigh up to 775 kilograms. They primarily feed on seals, but also hunt walruses and beluga whales.

Polar bears have transparent fur and black skin. Their front paws are large, flat and act as paddles while they swim and hunt underwater. The soles of their feet are adorned with small bumps, which allow them to grip on the ice as they travel. Polar bears have 42 teeth, which aid their carnivorous appetites. Their only natural predator is other polar bears—and humans.

Polar bears generally won't attack humans unless provoked. Hungry, aggressive, protective or territorial bears that are unaccustomed to people can be unpredictable and have . However,the number of polar bears hunted for sport or for meat greatly outnumbers the humans killed by polar bears.Canada is committed to protecting this vulnerable species that has been negatively impacted due to climate change.

Credit: Photo by onGrizzly bear Approximately live in Canada. Grizzlies can weigh up to 400 kilograms and stand over two metres tall. The grizzly bear is from the black bear not by its colour, but by its large shoulder hump, very long front claws, concave and dish-shaped face, and rounded ears. The Canadian grizzly is called a brown bear outside of North America.

Despite being large and muscular, grizzly bears are fantastic (which is why no one should ever try to out-run a grizzly). They live as solitary animals (unless with cubs) in densely forested areas, alpine meadows and the arctic tundra. Grizzly bears have no natural predators other than humans. Like black bears, they're not true hibernators—their body temperatures may drop and respiration may slow, but grizzly bears can remain active all winter.

Grizzly bears have widely varying diets that depend mainly on the season and available food sources. Grizzlies are omnivores, feeding up to 98 per cent on vegetation. However, they are highly adaptable and can also be up to 81 per cent carnivorous. When eating animal protein, grizzlies feed on mammals and spawning salmon. Unfortunately, like black bears, grizzly bears are attracted to human food. The saying goes: "." The grizzly population has been by human impacts, habitat loss and climate change.

Heading out for an adventure in bear country (especially during springtime—mating season)? Take to ensure you don’t cross paths with an unsuspecting grizzly.

Credit: Photo by onBlack bear More than live in Canada. Considerably smaller than grizzly and polar bears, black bears can weigh up to 290 kilograms, although most adult males weigh around 135 kilograms. They are approximately 150 to 180 centimetres long, with straight faces, tall ears, shorter front claws and the lack of an obvious hump.

Black bears can also be brown, blond or cinnamon. They are extremely adaptable, solitary (except for mothers with cubs) and omnivorous animals. Black bears typically live in forests and are excellent tree climbers. Although most of their diet consists of vegetation, black bears also eat fish and mammals. They can also develop a taste for human food and waste, making them one of the more commonly present bears in urban areas, and therefore in danger of being euthanized.

Black bears prefer escape and intimidation tactics when confronted by humans, but will sometimes , especially as humans continue to encroach on their territory. Watch for markings on trees, which black bears make with their claws and teeth. Before exploring in bear country, become .

Credit: Flickr cc by 2.0Cougar It’s estimated that live in Canada, of which 3,500 reside in British Columbia. These large cats weigh around 60 to 80 kilograms and live 10 to 12 years in the wild. Cougars have long tails, small rounded ears and red, grey or brown fur.

Also known as a puma or a mountain lion, a cougar can kill an animal up to four times its size. Cougars can sprint at 56 kilometres an hour, jump five to 10 metres and see a span of 130 degrees. Cougar's claws are retractable and emerge only when they're hunting. Despite their incredible land speed, cougars . Instead, they prefer to stalk and surprise attack.

Cougars live primarily in the Rocky Mountains and dark, forested areas of Western Canada, where they are less likely to be seen. You may hear that if you see a cougar, it’s because it wants to be seen and that it's likely stalking you, and it may be the last thing you'll ever see. However, fatal attacks are .

Unfortunately, humans continue to destroy cougar habitats. Typically, cougars attack when they are starving, territorial or desperate. Prevention is the most important step, but here's .

Credit: Photo by onGrey wolf Approximately live in Canada. Hunting and habitat loss has dramatically decreased the wolf's population . Males weigh approximately 45 kilograms; females weigh approximately 38 kilograms; both have bodies 1.2 to two metres long. The grey wolf looks similar to domestic dogs, such as German shepherds, and is capable of interbreeding.

Wolves live in forests, tundra, plains and mountains, and give birth in dens. These pack animals typically travel in groups of five to 12. Their diet consists of ungulates including deer, moose, caribou and elk, as well as smaller prey.

While wolves can be dangerous, they're usually quite timid. Wolves have been known to act aggressively towards humans if provoked, threatened or rabid, but they and more often avoid people. If you've seenThe Grey, you'll still want to know just in case.

Credit: Photo by onCoyote The coyote is so widespread in Canada, it's . Weighing between 8 and 23 kilograms, the coyote has several predators, including the wolf, cougar and bear. Coyotes resemble medium-sized .

Although they can be found throughout North America in forests and urban areas, coyotes typically live in open prairies and desert. They feed primarily on small rodents and hares, and local vegetation such as berries, fruits and nuts. When hunting in packs, coyotes sometimes catch larger game like deer. They are opportunistic eaters (think: bugs, snakes and trash) and have been known to prey on , small dogs and . They can jump and run up to 64 kilometres per hour.

Coyotes don't see humans as food sources unless they've been "." Coyotes are extremely curious and, like most animals, may chase people who run away. If a coyote appears aggressive, stand your ground, wave your arms, throw rocks and make loud noises to show that you are not easy prey. As of 2020, there is only of a coyote pack attacking and killing a human in Canada.

Credit: Photo by onWolverine There are approximately left in Canada. Trapping, hunting and increasing human impact such as deforestation has placed the eastern wolverine (of Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador) on Canada's . The western wolverine is currently listed as special concern. Wolverines weigh 9 to 18 kilograms and look like skunks or a small bears.

Wolverines are omnivorous scavengers that eat everything from berries and seasonal vegetation to mice and moose carcasses. Wolverines tend to pick at the remains of animals .

Research suggests that wolverines kill livestock, small animals and even moose, but there are no documented attacks on humans. Wolverines are strong and aggressive; however, they may be more bark than bite: standing your ground during a will likely cause them to back away.

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MoreCopyright © Explore Magazine. All Rights Reserved PO Box 57096 East Hastings, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5K 5G6, 1-888-924-7524 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our &[https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=801435089944213&ev=PageView][https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2617919842314&pd[em]=&noscript=1] The real reason Hugh Jackman left Wolverine

The real reason Hugh Jackman left Wolverine

This article is about the animal. For the Marvel Comics character, see . For alternate meanings, see .

Wolverine Temporal range: –recent, 2.588–0 ↓ () Kingdom:Phylum:Class:Order:Family:Genus:Species:G. guloGulo gulo (, )SubspeciesAmerican wolverine (G. g. luscus) Eurasian wolverine (G. g. gulo)

Wolverine rangesMustela gulo Linnaeus, 1758 Ursus luscus Linnaeus, 1758

The wolverine () (also spelled wolverene), Gulo gulo (Gulo is for ""), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch (from , kwiihkwahaacheew), is the largest land-dwelling of the family . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small than other mustelids. A solitary animal, it has a reputation for ferocity and strength out of proportion to its size, with the documented ability to kill prey many times larger than itself.

The wolverine is found primarily in remote reaches of the Northern and and of the , with the greatest numbers in , the of , the mainland of Europe, and throughout western Russia and . Its population has steadily declined since the 19th century owing to , range reduction and . The wolverine is now essentially absent from the southern end of its European range.

Contents Taxonomy[] Wolverine skull from the of at the Genetic evidence suggests that the wolverine is most closely related to the and , all of which shared a Eurasian ancestor.

Within the Gulo gulo species, a clear separation occurs between two : the form Gulo gulo gulo and the form G. g. luscus. Some authors had described as many as four additional North American subspecies, including ones limited to (G. g. vancouverensis) and the in Alaska (G. g. katschemakensis). However, the most currently accepted taxonomy recognizes either the two continental or G. gulo as a single taxon.

Recently compiled genetic evidence suggests most of North America's wolverines are descended from a single source, likely originating from during the last glaciation and rapidly expanding thereafter, though considerable uncertainty to this conclusion is due to the difficulty of collecting samples in the extremely depleted southern extent of the range.

Physical characteristics[] Skull, as illustrated by N.N. Kondakov Skeleton, the wolverine is a stocky and muscular animal. With short legs, broad and rounded head, small eyes and short rounded ears, it more closely resembles a bear than it does other mustelids. Though its legs are short, its large, five-toed paws with crampon-like claws and enable them to climb up and over steep cliffs, trees and snow-covered peaks with relative ease.

The adult wolverine is about the size of a medium dog, with a length usually ranging from 65–107 cm (26–42 in), a tail of 17–26 cm (61⁄2–10 in), and a weight of 5.5–25 kg (12–55 lb), though exceptionally large males can weigh up to 32 kg (71 lb). Another outsized specimen was reported to scale approximately 35 kg (77 lb). The males are as much as 30% larger than the females and can be twice the females' weight. According to some sources, Eurasian wolverines are claimed to be larger and heavier than North American with average weights in excess of 20 kg (44 lb) but this may refer more specifically to areas such as , as data from European wolverines shows they are typically around the same size as their American counterparts. The average weight of female wolverines from a study in the of was 10.1 kg (22 lb 4 oz) and that of males 15.3 kg (33 lb 12 oz). In a study from , the median weight of ten males was 16.7 kg (36 lb 13 oz) while the average of two females was 9.6 kg (21 lb 3 oz). In , the mean weight of males and females was 13.6 kg (30 lb 0 oz) and 9.9 kg (21 lb 13 oz). The average weights of wolverines were notably lower in a study from the , averaging 7.3 kg (16 lb 1 oz) in females and 11.3 kg (24 lb 15 oz) in males, perhaps because these animals from a "harvest population" had low fat deposits. In , the average weight was claimed as 11 to 12.6 kg (24 lb 4 oz to 27 lb 12 oz). The average weight of male and female wolverines from was listed as 14.6 kg (32 lb 3 oz) and 10 kg (22 lb). Shoulder height is reported from 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 in). It is the largest of terrestrial mustelids; only the marine-dwelling , the of the Amazon basin and the semi-aquatic are larger, while the may reach a similar body mass, especially in autumn.

Wolverines have thick, dark, oily fur which is highly , making it resistant to frost. This has led to its traditional popularity among hunters and trappers as a lining in jackets and in Arctic conditions. A light-silvery facial mask is distinct in some individuals, and a pale buff stripe runs laterally from the shoulders along the side and crossing the rump just above a 25–35 cm (10–14 in) bushy tail. Some individuals display prominent white hair patches on their throats or chests.

Like many other mustelids, it has potent used for and sexual signaling. The pungent odor has given rise to the nicknames "skunk bear" and "nasty cat." Wolverines, like other , possess a special upper molar in the back of the mouth that is rotated 90 degrees, towards the inside of the mouth. This special characteristic allows wolverines to tear off meat from prey or carrion that has been frozen solid.

Behavior[] Video of a wolverine in the Helsinki ZooDiet and hunting[] Wolverines are considered to be primarily . A majority of the wolverine's sustenance is derived from , on which it depends almost exclusively in winter and early spring. Wolverines may find carrion themselves, feed on it after the predator (often, a pack of wolves) has finished, or simply take it from another predator. Wolverines are also known to follow wolf and lynx trails, purportedly with the intent of scavenging the remains of their kills. Whether eating live prey or carrion, the wolverine's feeding style appears voracious, leading to the nickname of "glutton" (also the basis of the scientific name). However, this feeding style is believed to be an adaptation to food scarcity, especially in winter.

The wolverine is also a powerful and versatile predator. Prey mainly consists of small to medium-sized mammals, but the wolverine has been recorded killing prey such as adult deer that are many times larger than itself. Prey species include , , , , , , , , , mice, rats, , , , , , , sheep, goats, cattle, , , and . Smaller predators are occasionally preyed on, including , , foxes, , , and and pups. Wolverines have also been known to kill in the of . Wolverines often pursue live prey that are relatively easy to obtain, including animals caught in traps, newborn mammals, and deer (including adult moose and elk) when they are weakened by winter or immobilized by heavy snow. Their diets are sometimes supplemented by birds' eggs, birds (especially ), , , insect larvae, and .

Wolverines inhabiting the (specifically, ) hunt more actively than their North American relatives. This may be because competing predator populations in Eurasia are not as dense, making it more practical for the wolverine to hunt for itself than to wait for another animal to make a kill and then try to snatch it. They often feed on carrion left by , so changes in wolf populations may affect the population of wolverines. They are also known on occasion to eat plant material.

Wolverines frequently their food during times of plenty. This is of particular importance to females in the winter and early spring, a time when food is scarce.

Natural enemies[] Wolves are thought to be the wolverine's most important natural predator, with the arrival of wolves to a wolverine's territory presumably leading the latter to abandon the area. Armed with powerful jaws, sharp claws, and a thick hide, wolverines, like most mustelids, are remarkably strong for their size. They may defend against larger or more numerous such as wolves or bears. By far, their most serious predator is the , with an extensive record of wolverine fatalities attributed to wolves in both North America and Eurasia. Another predator (less frequent) is the . At least one account reported a wolverine's apparent attempt to steal a kill from a , although the bear won what was ultimately a fatal contest for the wolverine. There are a few accounts of killing and consuming wolverines as well and, although also reported at times to be chased off prey, in some areas such as , wolverines seemed to try to actively avoid encounters with grizzly bears as they have been reported in areas where wolves start hunting them. In another account, a wolverine was claimed to have killed an adult but this account may be dubious.

Mating and reproduction[] Successful males will form lifetime relationships with two or three females, which they will visit occasionally, while other males are left without a mate. Mating season is in the summer, but the actual implantation of the embryo (blastocyst) in the is until early winter, delaying the development of the . Females will often not produce young if food is scarce. The gestation period is 30–50 days, and litters of typically two or three young ("kits") are born in the spring. Kits develop rapidly, reaching adult size within the first year. The typical longevity of a wolverine in captivity is around 15 to 17 years, but in the wild the average lifespan is more likely between 8 and 10 years. Fathers make visits to their offspring until they are weaned at 10 weeks of age; also, once the young are about six months old, some reconnect with their fathers and travel together for a time.

Distribution[] Wolverine on rocky terrain Wolverine tracks on Wolverines live primarily in isolated , boreal, and regions of northern Canada, , , and ; they are also native to , the countries, the , northeast China and Mongolia. In the , wolverines were sighted near Winnemucca Lake in spring 1995 and at Toe Jam Lake north of the Yosemite border in 1996; and later photographed by baited cameras, including in 2008 and 2009, near . According to a publication, as of 2014 "wolverines are found in the in Washington and the Northern Rocky Mountains in Idaho, Montana, Oregon (), and Wyoming. Individual wolverines have also moved into historic range in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado, but have not established breeding populations in these areas."

In 2004, the first confirmed sighting of a wolverine in Michigan since the early 19th century took place, when a wildlife biologist photographed a wolverine in . The specimen was found dead at the Minden City State Game Area in in 2010; no further wolverines have been spotted in Michigan.

Most wolverines live in Canada and Alaska.

Conservation[] The world's total wolverine population is not known. The animal exhibits a low population density and requires a very large home range. The wolverine is listed by the IUCN as Least Concern because of its "wide distribution, remaining large populations, and the unlikelihood that it is in decline at a rate fast enough to trigger even Near Threatened".

The range of a male wolverine can be more than 620 km2 (240 mi2), encompassing the ranges of several females which have smaller home ranges of roughly 130–260 km2 (50–100 mi2). Adult wolverines try for the most part to keep nonoverlapping ranges with adults of the same sex. Radio tracking suggests an animal can range hundreds of miles in a few months.

Female wolverines burrow into snow in February to create a den, which is used until weaning in mid-May. Areas inhabited nonseasonally by wolverines are thus restricted to zones with late-spring . This fact has led to concern that will shrink the ranges of wolverine populations.

This requirement for large territories brings wolverines into conflict with human development, and hunting and trapping further reduce their numbers, causing them to disappear from large parts of their former range; attempts to have them declared an endangered species have met with little success. In February 2013, the proposed giving protections to the wolverine due to its winter in the northern Rockies diminishing. This was as a result of a lawsuit brought by the and .

The reported in June 2009 that a wolverine researchers had been tracking for almost three months had crossed into northern . Society officials had tagged the young male wolverine in near , and it had traveled southward for about 500 miles. It was the first wolverine seen in Colorado since 1919, and its appearance was also confirmed by the . In May 2016 the same wolverine was killed by a cattle ranch-hand in North Dakota, ending a >800-mile trip by this lone male wolverine, dubbed M-56. This was the first verified sighting of a Wolverine in North Dakota in 150 years. In February 2014, a wolverine was seen in Utah, the first confirmed sighting in that state in 30 years.

CountryPopulation in surveyed areaSurveyed areaYearState of populationSweden265+1995–97StableNorway150+ plateau and North1995–97 DeclineNorway and Sweden – overall1065Overall2012IncreaseFinland155–170 and North2008StableFinland – overall165-175Overall2012 IncreaseRussia15001970, 1990,DeclineRussia –885–1990–Russia –4101990LimitedRussia –160Hunting Districts1990DeclineUnited States – Unknown, 1998DeclineUnited States – 3.0 (± 0.4 SE) wolverines/1,000 km22004–United States – 28–52, , 1989–2007UnknownUnited States – California32008UnknownCanada –9.7 (± 0.6 SE) wolverines/1,000 km22004–Canada – Unclear – Peawanuck2004Stable to expandingCanada – overall15,000–19,000Overall–StableIn captivity[] Captive at the Kristiansand Zoo, NorwayAround a hundred wolverines are held in zoos across North America and Europe, and they have been bred in captivity, but only with difficulty and high infant mortality.

Name[] The wolverine's questionable reputation as an insatiable glutton (reflected in the Latin genus name Gulo) may be in part due to a . The less common name for the animal in , fjellfross, meaning "mountain cat", is thought to have worked its way into German as Vielfraß, which means "glutton" (literally "devours much"). Its name in other West Germanic languages is similar (e.g. : veelvraat ).

The Finnish name is ahma, derived from ahmatti, which is translated as "glutton". Similarly, the name is ahm, with the equivalent meaning to the Finnish name. In is ernis, in —tinis or āmrija.

The (rosomakha) and the Polish and name rosomák seem to be borrowed from the Finnish rasva-maha (fat belly). Similarly, the Hungarian name is rozsomák or torkosborz which means "gluttonous badger".

In French-speaking parts of Canada, the wolverine is referred to as carcajou, borrowed from the or kuàkuàtsheu. However, in France, the wolverine's name is glouton (glutton).

Purported gluttony is reflected neither in the English name wolverine nor in the names used in . The English word wolverine (alteration of the earlier form, wolvering, of uncertain origin) probably implies "a little wolf". The name in , and , jarfr, lives on in the regular name jarfi, regular Norwegian name jerv, regular Swedish name järv and regular Danish name jærv.

In culture[] The , when wolverines were still found in southern FranceMany cities, teams, and organizations use the wolverine as a mascot. For example, the US state of is, by tradition, known as "the Wolverine State", and the takes the animal as its mascot. There have also been professional and clubs called the "Wolverines". The association is well and long established: for example, many Detroiters volunteered to fight during the and , who led the , called them the "Wolverines". The origins of this association are obscure; it may derive from a busy trade in wolverine furs in in the 18th century or may recall a disparagement intended to compare early settlers in Michigan with the vicious mammal. Wolverines are, however, extremely rare in Michigan. A sighting in February 2004 near was the first confirmed sighting in Michigan in 200 years. The animal was found dead in 2010.

character was given the name "Wolverine" because of his short stature, keen animal senses, and ferocity.

The wolverine is prevalent in stories and oral history from various and figures prominently in the mythology of the people of eastern and . The wolverine is known as Kuekuatsheu, a conniving trickster who created the world. The story of the formation of the Innu world begins long ago when Kuekuatsheu built a big boat similar to and put all the various animal species in it. There was a great deal of rain, and the land was flooded. He told the to dive into the water to retrieve some mud and rocks which he mixed together to create an island, which is the world that we presently inhabit along with all the animals. Many tales of Kuekuatsheu are often humorous and irreverent and include crude references to bodily functions. Some Northeastern tribes, such as the and , refer to the wolverine as Lox, who usually appears in tales as a trickster and thief (although generally more dangerous than its Innu counterpart) and is often depicted as a companion to the . Similarly, the , a group of the -speaking natives of northwestern Canada, have many stories of the wolverine as a trickster and cultural transformer much like the in the tradition or in traditions.

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