Matthias Kabel
Nature Notes
A Charismatic Marauder Wanders Home Wolverines Back in Colorado? By Mary Duffy
O
n the heels of the successful reintroduction of Canada lynx, the state of Colorado is looking to bring back the wolverine. The state’s mountainous spine was once prime habitat for wolverine, lynx, wolf, and grizzly bear, all extirpated from the state by the early 1900s. Colorado has 2.4 million acres of alpine environment, more than any other of the lower 48 states. Because of elevation, even in the face of climate change, Colorado will always have cold and snow, the factors necessary for wolverine survival. There are only 300 wolverines estimated to live in the lower 48 states, in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The transplants would come from Canada and Alaska, where wolverines thrive, in hopes of establishing a population of 100 or more.
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These charismatic weasels are known for their strength, ferocity, and tenacity. Their stocky frames average 3 feet long and weigh in at 30 to 40 pounds. Their rich, brown coats sport a blond stripe
help them move easily over snow. They favor avalanche country (think San Juan Mountains), making their dens in deep snowbanks. Their home ranges can be 40 miles, and wolverines are
“The last wolverine documented in Colorado was in 1919. Then in 2009, a lone wolverine wandered into the state.” down the sides and across the forehead, and sometimes a splash of white in their ruff. Carnivores, wolverines eat rodents and carrion, and are known to take down larger animals if they are injured or trapped in deep snow. Commonly referred to as marauders, they cache their food in snow, using their keen noses to re-locate their frozen stores. Like lynx, wolverines have large paws and furry pads that
summer/fall 2013
known to summit the highest peaks … apparently just to see what they can see. The last wolverine documented in Colorado was in 1919. Then in 2009, a lone wolverine wandered into the state. M-56 had been tagged and released in the Grand Tetons and traveled 500 miles before settling in the rugged alpine environs of Rocky Mountain National Park. There is hope that if reintroduction
does occur, it happens in time for lonely M-56 to become part of the new population. A tentative state plan to reintroduce the wolverine is on hold until the federal government decides whether to list the species as threatened or endangered. There is some opposition from the ski industry and ranchers, who want assurances that the reintroduction won’t affect their activities. In order to allow uses to continue without restrictions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed designating the Southern Rockies as a “nonessential, experimental” population area. This means wolverines reintroduced into the state will have fewer protections under the Endangered Species Act. In the end, there will be no reintroduction until all stakeholders are comfortable with the plan.