In 2013, after years of advocacy from Defenders and our colleagues, the USFWS proposed listing of wolverines as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.  [1]

In 2010, due in part to our efforts, the USFWS determined that wolverines merited Candidate status under the Endangered Species Act [2]. It was an important step toward getting the protection that these animals deserve. 

Our ESA listing efforts also catalyzed important research into the projected effects of climate change on wolverine habitat in the western U.S.

In 2008, Defenders recommended changes to Montana’s wolverine trapping season—the only one in the United States—to minimize the impacts trapping poses to wolverines. We helped restrict trapping to just five animals per year, and no more than three females, with much of western Montana closed to trapping altogether. While we would rather see no trapping of this imperiled species, our input helped reduce the number of wolverines that can be taken.

We have helped fund important research into wolverine ecology in Glacier National Park in Montana and on the effects of winter recreation on wolverines in Idaho.