[news]
Mobile science Wolverine research brings together unlikely groups by Sarah Jane Keller
Three months ago at a trailhead in It’s clear that climate change threatens to riders that returned GPS units (as opposed eastern Idaho’s Centennial Mountains, their snowy habitats, so they’ll be consid- to dropping them in pit toilets, which once wolverine research technician Kyle Crap- ered for endangered listing this August. Yet happened). Yurt and helicopter skiing operaster eyed two snowmobilers from across the effects of increasing numbers of snow- tors and ski areas have also begun equipping the parking lot as they pulled avalanche mobiles, helicopters, snowcats and skis in customers with GPS trackers. safety gear from a sticker-emblazoned wolverine territory are uncertain. Though Heinemeyer is encouraged by truck. He suspected they were heading for Surprisingly, the Idaho State Snowmo- early results, the study needs to include the steep, open slopes that help make this bile Association endorses the study. The po- more animals to justify policy decisions, and area west of Yellowstone National Park, tential for a listing has raised the stakes for the wolverine’s rarity makes accumulating a known as Island Park, an international everyone: Snowmobilers hope the study’s large sample tough. A preliminary analysis snowmobiling destination. findings will prevent large closures, while revealed some snowmobile impact: WolverWolverines share the snowmobilers’ managers and scientists are optimistic that ines seemed to move more during high-trafaffinity for isolated alpine terrain with deep getting the recreation community involved fic weekends than during the quieter snow, and Crapster was part of a reworkweek. But it’s not yet known if search team tracking the movements that creates difficulties finding food, of both to learn if the traffic impacts burns too many calories, or hinders the animals. He approached the two survival and reproduction. men to ask them to take a GPS along “My sincere hope is that if on their ride. One of them noticed his there are any impacts, that we have clipboard and cut him off before he this group of folks that continue to could start: “I’m not carrying one.” work together and figure out ways to sustain both winter recreation Fortunately, such rejections are and wolverines on the landscape,” rare. About 90 percent of snowmobilHeinemeyer says. ers and skiers approached have taken There is another problem that the GPS units into the mountains. makes the study even more releSince 2010, researchers have colvant. Most researchers agree that lected roughly 10,000 GPS tracks in female wolverines, which dig snow the area. They’ve fitted 23 wolverines tunnels to birth kits in late Februwith radio-collars in those areas, inary and March, need deep snowcluding two in the Centennials. Evenpack lasting until late April and tually, they’ll compare the two early May, likely to protect their datasets to see if the presence of peophoto by Sarah Jane Keller denning kits. “Where you don’t ple affects how the animals behave, reproduce and where they choose to Researchers have used small GPS trackers to trace have those (cold, persistently the paths of more than 10,000 snowmobilers and snowy) conditions, you don’t have live—things that could ultimately af- backcountry skiers since 2010. wolverines,” says Shawn Sartorius, fect their survival. Wolverines are scrappy scavengers, early on could help wolverines remain rela- a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist based in Helena, who is overseeing the engenerally weighing between 20 and 60 tively uncontroversial, even if listed. “My hope is that regardless of the re- dangered species listing decision. pounds, with stout legs, snowshoe-like paws and sharp claws that equip them for sults, recreationists take ownership of this Climate change is the main threat motitravel near the treeline. When a three- to animal and become largely self-policing, and vating the proposed listing, but the study four-foot dump overwhelmed the re- we don’t have to force regulations upon could help managers if dwindling snowpack searchers’ snowmobiles in 2011, a GPS-col- them,” says Jeff Copeland, a Forest Service means that winter recreation adds stress to lared wolverine cruised the stormy slopes researcher who started the project before wolverines. “Winter recreation is one of the and ridgelines as briskly as a human strid- retiring to direct the Idaho-based Wolverine areas where we have more control,” says Ana Foundation. ing down a flat, dry trail. Egnew, a wildlife biologist on the Payette NaCopeland started the project because tional Forest. “Climate change is a bigger issue “They are just like a little super animal,” says Kim Heinemeyer, a biologist with he wanted to maintain wildlife manage- than the Forest Service can take on alone.” Round River Conservation Studies, a re- ment’s credibility by avoiding arbitrary cloBack in Island Park, Crapster prepares search nonprofit co-leading the study with sures. He also recognized a rare opportunity to approach the next truck that pulls in. The the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Re- to improve the adversarial and often liti- driver, a sunburned construction contractor gious relationship between snowmobilers with two teenage boys, is curious about search Station. But wolverines are also vulnerable. So and the Forest Service. The snowmobile as- wolverines: where they live, what they eat, far, their remote lifestyle has protected them sociation, in turn, saw that Copeland didn’t etc. He accepts a GPS unit. “If we’re harming anything, I wouldn’t from most of the pressures that other charis- have an anti-motorized agenda. matic carnivores face, like development, liveThat trust has been crucial. When the go there,” he says. “I’m glad that (wolverstock and logging. That, and their natural project began, researchers weren’t sure how ines) are here.” rarity, has also kept them relatively understud- snowmobilers at trailheads would respond. This story originally appeared in the ied. While there are thousands of wolverines But the ISSA encouraged its members to par- June 9 issue of High Country News in Alaska and Canada, plus more in northern ticipate, and some snowmobile rental compa- (hcn.org ). Europe and Asia, the Lower 48 probably hosts nies helped distribute GPS units. Local fewer than 300. But no one knows for sure. businesses provided beer and pizza discounts editor@missoulanews.com
June 26
July 3
Off in the Woods
Erin & The Project
Family Activity
Children's Museum Missoula
June 25 Ed Norton Big Band Family Activity
Mismo Gymnastics
Family Activity
YMCA of Missoula
July 2 "Pat Simmons Day" Big Sky Mudflaps Family Activity
Missoula Osprey
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