As the largest land-dwelling member of the weasel (Mustelidae) family, wolverines live in cold climates across North America and Eurasia. In Canada, wolverine populations are estimated to be more than 10,000. 

Fast facts

Common name: Wolverine

Scientific name: Gulo gulo

Cree name: Ommeethatsees

Type: Mammal

Diet: Carnivore

Group name: A pack

Average weight: 13 to 18 kg (male) and 7.5 to 12.5 kg (female)

Average height: 84 to 112 centimetres long (including tail)

COSEWIC Status: Special concern (2014)

Did you know?

Wolverines are recognized for their strength, fearlessness and verocity. When provoked or frightened, the wolverine’s anal glands produce a stinky secretion similar to one of a skunk, resulting in its common nickname, the “skunk bear.”

Physical characteristics and behaviour

Despite their position in the weasel family, wolverines display a similar appearance to one of a small, flattened bear due to their dense and generally dark brown fur and black colourations, long claws and sharp teeth. Wolverines also have short, somewhat bowed legs and short and pointy ears. Alongside its blackish-brown coat is a light brown or reddish stripe, which runs from each side of its neck all the way to the base of its tail.

Wolverines have wide paws and curved, semi-retractile claws, which allow them to climb trees easily and make them well-suited to travel through deep and soft snow and slippery ice. They also have semi-plantigrade posture, meaning they walk on the soles of their feet.

Wolverines are solitary animals, typically only coming together once a year to mate. Male wolverines are polygynous, meaning they mate with several females in their geographical range. After their breeding season (April to August), females are pregnant for approximately 215 days (roughly seven months). Mothers give birth in deep snow dens, which may even include tunnels 15 feet below the surface. Litters typically include two to five kits, which become fully independent after one year and sexually mature before the age of two.

Diet

Wolverines are known to be opportunistic when it comes to feeding, meaning they will eat just about anything they can find or kill. Their diet changes depending on the season and food availability, primarily feeding on carrion in the winter and small and medium-sized animals throughout the year, such as birds, squirrels, hares and more. They have also been found to eat reindeer, moose, porcupines, walrus, seals and whales. While they are very capable hunters, the wolverine’s diet often consists of scavenging animals that are already dead.

Habitat and distribution

Wolverines can be found in the Arctic and subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. They often inhabit areas that are undisturbed by humans, such as grasslands, alpine forests, boreal forests, taiga, and tundra.

In Canada, wolverines are often located in northern and western forested areas, in the alpine tundra of the western mountains and in the Arctic tundra. Wolverines’ range reductions began in the 19th century, primarily along the southern edge of the boreal forest, the plains and eastern Canada. Subpopulations were also extirpated from New Brunswick, southern Ontario, as well as the aspen parkland of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Today, it is unknown whether they currently inhabit Vancouver Island, Quebec or Labrador.