Wolverine Project
The Glacier National Park Wolverine Research Project has just
completed its third full year of study. During that time 19
wolverine were captured and fitted with radio collars and DNA
was analyzed for 20 individuals. Home ranges and habitat
information were calculated for several adults and mortality
data were collected for five individuals (juveniles and
sub-adults). Reproductive den sites were documented for two
different females over three different denning seasons,
representing 50% of the dens ever found in the continental U.S.
This project has been very successful thus far and needs to be
continued into the future. Our proposal for the next three years
is to outfit known study animals with GPS transmitters to obtain
detailed location information. This will include information on
reproductive den sites, avoidance of or attraction to human
use areas, sociality of wolverine, characteristics of travel
routes and specific food habits. Information of this magnitude
has never been obtained for wolverine in the U.S. because of the
remote and rugged terrain which they inhabit, their elusive
nature, small population size and uncanny mobility. This
information will be key to developing a management plan for
conserving wolverine and their habitat in the park and
surrounding lands. |