OT: Wolverines (the furry kind) in the Pacific Northwest

Submitted by 4godkingandwol… on February 14th, 2020 at 2:30 PM

Random post, but I've always had an interest in learning more about my alma mater's mascot namesake, and I assume some others do, as well. Article in the Seattle Times about the recovery of wolverines in the Cascades. Perhaps they are making their way to Seattle for the game in September. 

https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/shop-northwest/bringing-back-the-spirit-animal-of-the-backcountry/

Has some interesting facts in it. Such as:

1) All wolverines have a unique pattern on their chest that reveals their identity

2) They range for hundreds of miles across the most remote and technical terrain in the Northwest

3) They only den in places where snow persists into May and don't use the same den twice, which are limiting factors in wolverine recovery   

Watching From Afar

February 14th, 2020 at 3:00 PM ^

Wolverines have been shown to scale mountains in mere hours, take down animals 20X their size, can smell dead carcasses under feet of snow, and are generally terrifying animals.

They're awesome.

Davymac97.

February 14th, 2020 at 3:02 PM ^

Thanks for sharing, this was a great read.  

I've always had a sense of pride that Michigan is known as "The Wolverine State" and a curiosity about them since the football team we love named it's mascot after them.

I love sharing with friends and out of towners that , according to legend, Ohioans referred to Michiganders as "vicious blood thirsty wolverines.." when describing how we defended our position in the Toledo War.  

DMill2782

February 14th, 2020 at 3:52 PM ^

Yep. Dolphins have a mean streak to say the least. The males will kill their young just so they can mate with the, mostly unwilling, female again. 

They've also been found to kill other fish and mammals for reasons other than food. Could be fun, could be something else. 

Killer Whales, the largest dolphins, always seem to have an endgame to their violence. It's not always as clear with the smaller species of dolphins. 

UM Fan from Sydney

February 14th, 2020 at 3:54 PM ^

I did not know until reading this and researching wolverines that they are so rare. There are allegedly about only 300 left in the USA. That's nuts.

I'mTheStig

February 14th, 2020 at 3:55 PM ^

They only den in places where snow persists into May 

Makes me wonder why they aren't here in Colorado.  Plus, there's a shit ton of prey in the woods for them too.

xtramelanin

February 14th, 2020 at 5:36 PM ^

reasonably sure i saw one in nov/december, and came across its tracks last month.  took the time to examine closely, as near as i could possibly tell, that was a wolverine.  not kidding.  this is not my pic, but it is virtually identical to the ones i saw

Image result for image of a wolverine track

Oregon Wolverine

February 15th, 2020 at 11:55 AM ^

Saw a wolverine when I was backpacking deep into North Cascades National Park, approximately 20 years ago.  I was about  100 yards away, picked up movement w/my eyes and pulled out the binoculars — could not believe what I saw.
 

Sadly I didn’t have a decent camera w/me that could pick up anything other than a small brown dot. When I got back to Portland I did some research because there was not much info about their range into Washington, confirmed sightings can happen, but rarely.  

Hope to see a big turnout of fans in Seattle!!