CLASSIFICATION:
CLASSIFICATION:
KINGDOM:
Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS:
Mammalia
ORDER: Carnivora
FAMILY:
Mustelidae
SUBFAMILY: Mustelinae
GENUS:
Gulo
SPECIES: gulo
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
The wolverine is also known as the Carcajou, Devil bear, Devil beast, and
American glutton. (The European glutton is a separate, but closely
related, species.) It is also called skunk bear because of its light
colored stripe starting on the shoulder, traversing along both sides of the
body, and merging together into one stripe at the base of the tail. This
stripe is commonly blonde in color and contrasts with the blackish-brown fur of
the rest of its coat. However, this stripe may be darker or absent in some
individuals. Known as the largest living terrestrial mustelid, the
wolverine might be mistaken for a small bear with the exception of its bushy
tail. The hairs on the tail are 20 cm long. The coat produces an oil
which makes the hairs frost resistant. It has a broad, sturdy body, short
legs, and feet armed with heavy, curving claws. Wolverines grow to around 65-87
cm long excluding the tail which is 17-26 cm. Males are generally 10%
larger and 30% heavier than females. The males weigh approximately 13-18
kilograms, but have been known to grow up to 23 kilograms, whereas females weigh
approximately 8-11 kilograms. Although wolverines have fairly poor
eyesight, they have keen senses of smell and hearing. Wolverines are
aggressive and more powerful than any other animal of their size.
Wolverines have been reported to drive bears and mountain lions from their kills
and they are strong enough to kill elk and moose.
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DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:
Today the wolverine is found primarily in the most northern parts of North
America, Europe, and Asia. However, their distribution once ranged into
central Europe and into the midwestern United States. Wolverines inhabit
mountains, open plains, brushlands, and boreal forests. They build rough
beds of leaves or grass in rock crevices or caves, under fallen trees, or in
burrows abandoned by other animals. Occasionally they construct their nest
under the snow.
Wolverines are solitary animals except during the breeding season. They are notorious for raiding traps and food caches of hunters. They are territorial and do not tolerate individuals of the same sex in their territories. They mark their territory with secretions from anal scent glands and urine. To discourage other animals from raiding their food caches, wolverines mark their caches with scent gland secretions. With the exception of occasional grunts and growls, wolverines are rarely vocal. Wolverines are mainly terrestrial, but occasionally climb trees to rob nests and are excellent swimmers. They can cover 60-80 km in one day in their activities, even in the snow. Their home ranges may vary from 300 to 500 square kilometers in size for adult males and 100 to 350 square kilometers for adult females. Wolverines are generally nocturnal, but they are often active in daylight hours. Wolverines may alternate three-to-four-hour periods of activity and sleep in areas that have extended times of light or darkness. They are active year-round and do not appear to be bothered by snow or even severe weather. wolverines can defend themselves against a wolf, but a pack of wolves and Polar bears have been known to kill a wolverine, usually it's over food.
DIET:
The wolverine diet ranges from small eggs to caribou calves. Although the wolverine is capable of bring down prey that is five times bigger than itself, it obtains much of its food by scavenging. It will scavenge the kills of moose, caribou, or sheep after the original hunters have abandoned their meal. However, the wolverine's diet is not limited to carrion, it also hunts small mammals such as voles, squirrels, marmots, porcupines, lemmings, birds, and mice, as well as reindeer, roe deer, wild sheep, and elk. The wolverine is well adapted for this lifestyle; it has large claws and pads on its feet which allow it to chase down prey in deep snow. The wolverine's teeth are strong and the muscles of its neck are large, allowing it to crush bone and tear frozen flesh from its prey. The wolverine can reach speeds of 50 kilometers an hour when on the attack.
REPRODUCTION:
Wolverines breed during May through August and give birth only once every two years. This is due to delayed implantation. After the egg is fertilized, the embryo is not implanted immediately. It floats in the uterus until November-January, when implantation into the uterine wall then occurs. After implantation, gestation takes only another 30-50 days. Females build snow dens in which they then give birth to normally small litters, with two to four kits being born. These young generally nurse for 8 to 10 week. They separate from the mother when sexually mature. The young wolverines attain their adult size after 1 year. They are sexually mature at 2 to 3 years of age. Female wolverines in captivity have bred up to 10 years of age. Wolverines in the wild generally live 8 to 10 years, however wolverines in captivity may live up to 17 years.
CONSERVATION:
The status of the wolverine is threatened. This is due in part to the
fact that the wolverine pelt is valued as a trimming for parka hoods because it
does not collect moisture from the breath and thus remains free of frost.
The wolverine is also considered a source of irritation to trappers when it
breaks into their cabin or cache, or removes their catch from a trap line.
This combined with the fact that large wilderness areas are essential to its
survival and these areas are being diminished by transportation networks,
agricultural clearings, and human habitation are causing the wolverine
populations to decline.
REFERENCES:
Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia Deluxe, 1998. The Learning Company,
Inc.
New Standard Encyclopedia, Volume 17, 1987. Standard Educational
Corporation, Chicago, IL
Nowak, R.M. and Paradiso, J.L., 1983. Walker’s Mammals of the World.
4th Edition. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD
Rue, L.L. 1967. Pictorial Guide to the Mammals of North America.
Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York City, NY. 
Wolverine Foundation - Species
InformationFor more information, contact Page created by Tonya
C. Dahl, Kiehrstin Schirtzinger, and Jennifer Peterson Pensacola Junior College ZooTech Students,
Fall/Spring 2000, and Fall 2002 University of
Michigan - Wolverine information Sheet
San Francisco State U - Biogeography