California
Gulo gulo  Gerald and Buff Corsi, California Academy of Sciences | |
| Type of Animal: | Mammals |
|---|---|
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Federal Status: | |
| State Status: | Threatened |
| Occurrence: | |
| Habitat: | Forest |
| Description: | The wolverine is the largest terrestrial member of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels and badgers. Adult males weighing 26 to 40 pounds and adult females weighing 17 to 26 pounds. Wolverines are nocturnal animals, but they will occasionally hunt during the day when they are hungry. They live in dens beneath trees or in crevices, and they often line their den with grasses and other vegetation. These animals are very adept at clawing, scratching, and moving large objects. Wolverines are also known as "gluttons" because of their eating habits. Wolverines will eat almost anything, especially other animals. They are not afraid to attack large animals, such as elk and bears, but the main portion of their diet is made up of various squirrels and rabbits. They are also known for stealing food from other animals by either scaring them away from their catch or simply by raiding their food cache when they are away. Wolverines keep their own food caches, but since they are not very good at hiding their food they mark it with a fowl-smelling musk to keep other animals away. Wolverines will also eat berries, but only if other food sources are limited. They are solitary most of the year, except during the breeding season. Wolverines have a relatively long breeding season, extending from early spring into late fall. Like other mustelids, wolverines experiences delayed implantation. The young are therefore born between February and April of the following year. A typical litter size is two to three young. The young remain with the mother for approximately two years before leaving to establish their own territory. In the wild wolverines can live up to five years. Many wolverines are trapped for their valuable fur, which can be used for such things as the lining of parkas. |
| Effort: | |
| References: | Jameson et al. 1988. California Mammals. Wilson et al. (editors). 1999. The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Whitaker (editor). 1998. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals, Revised Edition. Zeiner et al. (editors). 1990. California’s Wildlife, Volume III, Mammals. |
| Other Sites: | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service species profile |
| Field Office(s): | Bakersfield; Redding |