Introduction We are now writing about a new animal we just found. The wolverine was considered to be extinct but in 2004 it was finally discovered and now we know it as the wolverine in x-men or an endangered animal. Despite it’s name, the wolverine is not related to the wolf. The wolverine is very clever like a wolf, but he is much more resourceful than a wolf. The wolverine is related to the weasel, they are known to be very shy and like most weasels the wolverine is scarcely seen. There are people who have spent years in the Alaskan wild and never seen one. Although you may not see them, you can smell them because like most weasels the wolverine has glands that it often uses to mark territory. Even though they have a shy nature, those who have seen the wolverine attest to their feistiness. The wolverine is also very fierce, fearless and protective of it’s young. The wolverine inherited the weasel’s powerful back and legs. Wolverines are found in the Arctic mainland of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. The wolverine eats small mammals, birds, fish and fruit. The wolverine also eats caribou or moose. If the wolverine saw some food that a wolf killed the wolverine would spray a scent on the food then the wolverine would eat it. The wolverine is always on the move and is always trying different ways to get the job done. Sometimes in order to do that he uses rocks or his body as a wedge, he might use his head to push up his obstacle, if he can’t push an obstacle, he will literally stand on his head to see if that will move his obstacle. Because of his work and eating ethics, it is considered to be one of the most resourceful animals in the Arctic. Enemies Other interesting information
Wolverines have few natural predators, but they are occasionally attacked and killed, although seldom eaten, by wolves and other large carnivores. Eagles have been known to take young kits. Wolverine mothers go to great lengths to find secure dens for their young, suggesting that predation may be important in some areas. During the mating season, fights between resident males and other males can occur as they compete for females. It may be this fighting that encourages the young males to disperse considerable distances. Scavenging is a difficult way to survive. Many young, inexperienced wolverines and very old wolverines die from starvation, even if food is abundant. Transients, typically young adults passing through the territory, have a higher mortality rate than residents, because they do not benefit from hunting in a familiar home range. The wolverine pelt remains one of the most prized furs because of its beauty and because frost brushes off easily. The Inuit and Dene of northern Canada use wolverine fur as trim and lining for their clothing, such as parkas, mitts, and moccasins. Over 80 percent of all wolverine pelts sold in Canada—about 400 to 600 each year—come from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, and British Columbia. Wolverine fur is consistently high in value: a well-handled and prime pelt sells for an average of $400. Roads that permit human access to wolverine habitat can be detrimental to wolverine populations, especially if the animals are also killed by trapping or hunting. In areas where logging occurs, wolverines may use the forested corridors adjacent to roads to get to other parts of their home ranges. This makes them vulnerable to trappers who use the same roads to set their traps. Major roads, like the Trans-Canada Highway, can also keep wolverines from reaching important parts of their habitat. Denning females are sensitive to disturbance, particularly human activity. Even the presence of careful researchers has caused wolverines to abandon their dens. The increasing use of snowmobiles and skiing in the vicinity of wolverine dens, such as in subalpine mountainous regions, can harm wolverine populations. However, in tundra areas, female wolverines have tolerated human activity without abandoning their dens. A number of zoological organizations and individuals have been successful in raising wolverines in captivity. Researchers have learned much about wolverine behaviour from studying these captive animals. It has been suggested that wolverines raised in captivity could be used in reintroductions, where wolverines are moved to a new region in order to increase or augment existing populations or assist in the recovery of endangered populations. The success of wolverine reintroductions depends on many factors. There must be a sufficient supply of animals, and reintroduced animals must originate from the same habitat, environmental conditions, and genetic stock (to protect those characteristics that have allowed them to adapt to those environmental conditions) as the animals they are joining. A recovery plan is being written to examine the options for the survival of the eastern Canadian wolverine population and the measures necessary to achieve its recovery. In other regions of Canada, trapping can be a concern in areas where safe places or refuges for wolverines need to be maintained, especially if an increase in population numbers is required. Trapping must be excluded over a very large area to protect a sufficient number of resident wolverines. Protection of denning habitat from human disturbance may also be critical for wolverine survival. Wolverines are subject to the same habitat threats that affect other large carnivores in Canada, like the grizzly bear. The wolverine does not appear to thrive in habitats that have been permanently altered by land-based activities, such as agriculture, urban and industrial development, and human settlement. The problem does not appear to be the actual loss of habitat or the presence of humans. Instead, the problem seems to be the breaking up, or fragmentation, of the wolverine habitat, as well as the increased human access to the habitat. Studies of wolverine ecology do not suggest that wolverines cannot co-exist with certain land-use activities, such as forestry and mining. However, where such activities occur, especially if they are coupled with trapping, low-density wolverine populations can have a difficult time surviving or growing. Even higher-density populations, such as those in the mountainous areas of British Columbia, can be negatively affected by human access and trapping. The future of the wolverine in Canada is of international importance. At present, Russia, Canada, and Alaska maintain the only large and relatively secure populations left in the world. Within North America, the species’ long-term survival in the western United States is dependent upon maintaining continuity with wolverines in British Columbia and Alberta. Success at retaining wilderness in Canada may be the key to maintaining and restoring the wolverine throughout its range. Online resources |  This is a image of a wolverine cub How can you help sponsor in your local zoo or donate or shop on donate and shop or help other communities such as: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/natcul/natcul15_E.asp#concerns
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Introduction | This is a image of a wolverine cub How can you help sponsor in your local zoo or donate or shop on donate and shop or help other communities such as: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/natcul/natcul15_E.asp#concerns
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