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Mixed facts about the wolverine

  • The wolverine was placed under protection in 1969. It may not be hunted and killed other than with a protective purpose (e.g. in order to reduce the damages done to the reindeer herds). After that it has been placed under protection, the Swedish wolverine population has recovered and is by now estimated to approx. 600 - 700 animals.
  • In Norway the number of wolverines is estimated to approx. 360 and in Finland to approx. 140.
  • In 1992 the Swedish “wolverine project” was started, supported by a.o. the W.W.F. – the World Wildlife Fund. A number of wolverine got small radio transmitters inoperated and the animals could thus be traced by researchers.
  • The mating season of the wolverine ranges from April till August. The year after, in February/March the female gives birth to 2 – 3 cubs. The number of cubs per litter varies from 1 – 4.
  • The wolverine can reach a weight of approx. 25 kg and a length of 95 – 100 cm. The average weight for the male in Sweden is only 12 – 18 kg and for the female 8 – 12 kg. Normal average weights are 15 kg for the male species and 10 kg for the female. The normal average height at the withers is approx. 40 cm.
  • The wolverine has short, round ears.  Sometimes it has a white spot on breast and throat. The base color is brown, sometimes nearly black with a lighter brown stripe from the brow, along the sides to the tail.
  •  In some areas in Norway where many sheep and wolverines live, it is estimated, that up to 64% of the newborn lambs fall victim to the wolverines.
  • The basic condition for the long term survival of the wolverine is, that it must not be hunted and killed by humans, that there is sufficient of prey around, and that there is enough undisturbed area available for building a nest and that there are sufficient predators around that leave carcasses.
  • The genetic variation among the wolverines is considered to be small, owing to the restricted number of the species that was present when the placement under protection took place.
  • The wolverine population would be sizably bigger if not that much of illegal hunting had taken place.
  • The biggest areas of conflict between wolverines and humans are found in the with sheep and reindeer densely populated areas of Norway.
  • The wolverine carries a well founded rumor to be a regular (meat) burglar, to the distress of groups of the population, that store food in hunting lodges, Lap tents and sites of general storage. As a protection against such burglary, Indians, Laps, Trappers and other Nordic population groups designed storage rooms that were built on poles with removable stairs.
  • Notwithstanding the lack of proof that wolverines ever attacked human beings, the animal’s   mythical strength constituted an often repeated part of historical descriptions.
  • The wolverine s capable of dragging large chunks of food long ways.
  • The cubs keep to the mother until spring arrives the year after they were born.
  • The wolverine is a good tree climber and also a good swimmer.
  • In former times it was rumored, that the wolverine, once having filled its stomach, wrung its belly between a forked tree trunks. Thus forcing its stomach and bowels to empty themselves in order to be able to take up gluttony again. This is a myth of course. It may probably be related to the fact, that the wolverine is capable to move and hide large chunks of meat from carcasses.
  • When the wolverine is stressed or in danger, it can spread an odor like that of a skunk. The odor is pressed out of a gland close to the anal opening.
  • The wolverine moves with jumping or jogging movements, sharply contrasting with the way a bear moves.