Wolverine

Species

Wolverine        

Latin name

Gulo gulo

What they look like

Smaller than a bear, but similar in build, wolverines are muscular animals that feature short legs, a wide, rounded head and short ears. Its body is covered in dark brown fur, while its face and legs have black fur.

Animal facts

• Their thick and oily fur means it’s resistant to frost.
• Male wolverines can be up to a third bigger than females.
• Their large, five-toed paws help them manoeuvre efficiently through thick snow.
• They have a special upper molar that helps them rip meat from frozen prey or carrion.

What they eat

A wolverine’s diet is mainly made up of small mammals such as rabbits, mice and squirrels but they have also been known to kill bigger prey such as the Eurasian lynx and weasels. Their diet is also sometimes supplemented by seeds, berries, roots, insect larvae and bird’s eggs.

Habitat

Mountain forests.

Where they live

The wolverine can be found in remote parts of the Northern boreal forests and subarctic and alpine tundra of the Northern Hemisphere. They can also be found in northern Canada, Alaska, Europe, western Russia and Siberia.  

Threats

Habitat loss and hunting.