Wolverine
Last Update/Review: June 3, 2002
Gulo gulo
"Glutton," "Skunk bear" and "Carcajou (Evil One)" are names given to this solitary, seldom-seen inhabitant of the mixed-wood and montane zones. Largest of the weasel family, the wolverine reaches 125 centimetres in length and may weigh 16 kilograms.
Not as agile as other members of the weasel family, the wolverine compensates with strength, aggressiveness and cunning. The bulk of its diet consists of mice, squirrels, grouse and marmots. Although it sometimes kills larger animals—such as deer or caribou—it also scavenges the carcasses of animals killed by other predators, sometimes running the predator off its kill. Whether it killed or scavenged an animal, a wolverine will stay close to to the carcass until all edible parts are consumed.
Mating occurs in February or March and two or three young are born in June under a shelter of rocks or deadfall.
Trapping
Although not a high producer of revenue because of its naturally sparse population, the wolverine does regularly retain the highest price per pelt of any furbearer. This price is mainly the result of demand for the use of wolverine fur as ruffs on the hoods of parkas. The fur easily sheds the frost that normally collects from the breath. Many wolverine pelts never make it to market because of personal use by trappers and their families. In 2000-2001, Alberta trappers produced 37 wolverine pelts at a mean price of $275.00 per pelt, or a total production for the province of $10 175.
Wolverine are trapped from early November to late January in all but the parkland and prairie regions of the province. Pelts are in their prime from mid-November to late January.
