wolverines

The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a large mustelid native to northern latitudes of North America and Eurasia. Known for its strength and endurance, it is an opportunistic predator and scavenger, capable of taking down prey larger than itself and caching food for later use.

Wolverines inhabit boreal forests, tundra, and alpine regions across Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia, and northern Russia. They prefer remote, cold habitats with deep snow and rugged terrain. Individuals have large ranges and are mostly solitary except for breeding and maternal care.

Physically, wolverines are stocky, with short legs, a broad head, and dense, dark fur that can be brown to almost black, often with pale stripes along the sides. Their broad paws are well adapted to moving across snow and rough terrain, aiding digging and caching.

Ecologically, they are generalist feeders. Diet includes small mammals, birds, eggs, berries, and carrion; they will follow predators and scavenge carcasses, and they cache food for winter. They are territorial and mostly solitary, meeting only for mating.

Reproduction involves delayed implantation; mating in late summer; litters of 1-5 kits born in a winter den; kits are weaned after several months and stay with the mother for up to a year. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern, though regional declines occur due to climate change and habitat loss.