hokiewolf

March 9th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^

Well they stink and are ferocious. One of the wolverine nicknames is skunk-bear. They eat carrion, so I can't imagine that they taste good, either.

At least they aren't poisonous, hairy nuts.

EDIT: Really? Negged over biology? I didn't pick their diet or put in the musk glands. If it were up to me they would eat nachos.

Mr. Robot

March 9th, 2010 at 3:46 PM ^

I understand that wolverines are increasingly rare and ever hard to capture alive, but considering that California was once a natural habitat for them, I don't understand why anybody would stop somebody from taking a female from up north and releasing her in that neck of the woods. If they can get the reproduction going, it could restore them to that area.

Sounds like we need to form a team for Operation Find-And-Move for Buddy (For real though, who names a wolverine Buddy?).

jmblue

March 9th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^

They'd need more than just one couple to get the ball rolling. To restore a viable population, they'd have to bring in at least 20-30 wolverine couples to ensure a certain level of genetic diversity.

Zone Left

March 9th, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^

I had no idea the scientific name is "Gulo Gulo." That sounds like a solid MGoShirt, maybe with a Wolverine cracking a Buckeye in its mouth?

hokiewolf

March 10th, 2010 at 8:54 AM ^

I don't think you can. Sorry. I didn't mean to dangle this story as a teaser, but I only know her as the sister of a good friend from grad school. While she was cool with me putting up these two photos, I don't think she wants any more publicity.

MGoShoe

March 9th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^

I haven't done an exhaustive review of the literature on wolverine viability, but it appears to me that the long term prospect for reintroduction of wolverines in lower 48 habitats is problematic not because of prey shortages or range infringement, but because of the effects that climate change have on the species' reproductive success. There's a reason that wolverines ranges are moving north, and it's not because they like Canadian carrion better than good old American carrion.

jmblue

March 9th, 2010 at 6:58 PM ^

Except that it isn't clear that the wolverine's habitat is moving north right now. It appeared to do so in the early 20th century (when the species was hunted almost to extinction in the Lower 48), but over the past two decades there have been surprising sightings in a number of places where the species had been assumed long gone (California, Colorado, even Michigan).

MGoShoe

March 9th, 2010 at 7:13 PM ^

...I just think that climate change is a factor that has to be accounted for. I don't have a problem with the idea that over trapping was a major contributor to the crash of wolverines populations, but there are clearly climate change related effects in the mountain west that are unhelpful to the long term viability of these populations.

Feat of Clay

March 10th, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^

Well, sounds like the outcome has always been good--easy food, eventual release when the researchers come by. What's not to like? A few hours inconvenience being stuck in a cage, waiting for release. All borne with some measure of confidence that if you get too sick of waiting, you can probably rip/claw/chew your way out anyway.

Rico616

March 10th, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^

So I read some of the reader comments...I guess this guy doesnt know that Wolverines dont inhabit Michigan anymore. Wish they would though.

"I used to be so afraid of wolverines as a kid from reading about them. They're super powerful. Never met one. They like it cold, like Michigan. Get a female wolverine from there, give the cats some competition."