Defenders' Experts
Wolverine
Called “skunk bear” by the Blackfeet Indians, the wolverine
is the largest terrestrial member of the weasel family.
The numbers of wolverines have decreased precipitously and yet the species still does not have any federal protection. Since 2000, Defenders has been actively involved in trying to make sure that this remarkable animal is protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
USFWS Decision Not to Protect Wolverines in the U.S. is New Low
March 10, 2008 - In a stunning interpretation of its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act, the Bush administration decided today that it has no obligation to protect endangered wildlife, provided they are contiguous with larger populations in Canada or Mexico. This directly affects the wolverine.
Statement from Jamie Clark
Joint Press Release
USFWS 12 Month Findings on Petition to List the Wolverine
In the Field
Defenders is working in cooperation with the Forest Service and Glacier National Park to support crucial wolverine research. By tracking wolverines with radio-collars we are learning about which types of habitat they prefer, what they eat, and where they den and raise young.
Management and Policy
Heavy trapping in the early 1900s and habitat degradation by snowmobilers and backcountry skiers have likely been factors contributing to decreasing populations of wolverines. Since 2000, Defenders and other conservation groups have been pushing the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the wolverine under the Endangered Species Act, yet they refuse to do so.
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