In a study published in 2011 scientist Synte Peacock showed that the habitat of wolverines in northwestern United States could be severely affected by greenhouse gas emissions. The climate could warm dramatically according the scenarios that have been used. The wolverine, the largest mustelids and one of the leastknown large carnivores of northern Eurasia and America, may not survive this climate change.
The wolverine is well-adapted to cold weather and deep snow packs. It is widely recognised that spring snow cover is essential for the wolverine to survive, as is summer-time temperature, which should not exceed an average of 22 °C.
For the past eight years the Wildlife Conservation Society in the U.S. have been studying the elusive wolverine in its habitat in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This led to a better understanding of wolverine ecology. This information supports development of conservation strategies to save this rare species despite the 21st century conservation challenges it faces. An estimated 250 – 300 wolverines remain in the contiguous U.S. (i.e. U.S. without Alaska and Hawai), where they occupy about half of their former range in high alpine peaks of the western United States.
This camera-trap photo of a wolverine, was shot in Yellowstone and recently released by WCS. The animal is retrieving bait placed in a tree in Montana. The frame upon which the animal climbs is designed so that the unique markings on the underside of the wolverine are revealed to the motion-sensing camera. Scientists use these markings to identify individual animals and document their distribution and range.
(Source: WCS, 29.02.2012)
