Photo Credit: USFWS
Photo Credit: USFWS
Wolverine Gulo gulo
Gunnison SageGrouse
Federal Status: Not listed
Centrocercus minimus
State Status: Endangered
Federal Status: Proposed Endangered
Adult males weigh 26-40 pounds and adult females weigh 17-26 pounds. The Wolverine resembles a small bear with a bushy tail. It has a round, broad head; short, rounded ears, and small eyes. They have 5 toes on each foot, with curved and semi retractile claws used for digging and climbing.
State Status: Special Concern
Habitat: Wolverines do not appear to specialize on specific vegetation or ecological habitat aspects, but instead select areas that are cold and receive enough winter precipitation to reliably maintain deep persistent snow late into the warm season. Deep, persistent, and reliable spring snow cover (April 15 – May 14) is the best overall predictor of wolverine occurrence.
These birds are about one-third smaller than the Greater Sage-Grouse, and males have more distinct, white barring on their tail feathers with longer and denser filoplumes on their necks. Female Gunnison and female Greater Sage-Grouse have nearly the same plumage, but the female Gunnison is again, about one-third smaller than the Greater Sage-Grouse. Male Gunnison Sage-Grouse conduct an elaborate display when trying to attract females on breeding grounds or leks in the spring. Habitat: Gunnison Sage-Grouse require a variety of habitats such as large expanses of sagebrush with a diversity of grasses and forbs, and healthy wetland and riparian ecosystems. It requires sagebrush for cover and for fall and winter food. For more information visit: www.cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/ unnisonSagegrouseConservationPlan. aspx.
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