Wolverine Information

The wolverine appears to be a small bear cub, but it is part of the weasel family. The weasel can live seven to twelve years and in that time needs plenty of room to run and search for food. Information on the wolverine, the animal, will help you understand just how this powerful animal survives the wilds if they are hunted or protected.

Diet

The wolverine is a predator seeking the tasty meat of rodents and rabbits, but will feed on berries and plants in the warmer seasons. Although the wolverine overpowers small prey easily, it is not unusual to see a wolverine attack and take down a caribou or any other larger animal if it feels that the animal is injured and weak. The wolverine will eat hearty during the warmer months because of the limited amounts of prey during the colder months.

Size

The wolverine when down on all fours will reach the knees of a six-foot tall man at its back height. The tail is seven to ten inches long and the body and head is about twenty-six to thirty-four inches long. Wolverines weigh anywhere from twenty-four to forty pounds when mature.

Reproductive

The wolverine will mark their territory with a scent that they give off and allow more than one female to come into the area. The females will birth two to three young in the dens that are built under the snow. The young are born in late winter or early in the spring. The wolverine young will stay with the mother until about two years old when they reach their own reproductive maturity.

Locale

Wolverines live in the wilds of North America, Asia and Europe. The habitat of the wolverine will be found in dense forests, tundra's and taigas. Some wolverines are housed in public zoos, but they are generally housed in a habitat that is natural to their wild surroundings. The wolverine can travel upwards of fifteen miles a day for food.

Sport Hunting

The wolverine was hunted in North American for the fur, which was used as the fur lining in parkas. This practice is not as common as it was years ago because many areas have protective laws that don't allow hunting of the wolverine.