Wolverine trots out rare hike into Colorado
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Wolverine trots out rare hike into Colorado
By Howard Pankratz
The Denver Post
Posted: 06/19/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Updated: 06/19/2009 06:09:33 PM MDT
A solo wolverine, perhaps in search of a mate, has traveled more than
500 miles to northern Colorado, the first confirmed sighting of the
species here since 1919.
Bob Inman, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Yellowstone
Wolverine Program, said the animal, tagged M56 and fitted with a radio
collar in December, went on the move in April.
He traveled from Grand Teton National Park, crossing busy Interstate
80 in southern Wyoming, to reach timberline in the mountains of
northern Colorado.
"It is great news that this animal has ventured into Colorado, where
it hasn't been documented in 90 years, but it also underscores the
need to manage this species at a multi-state scale," Inman said.
There have been reports of wolverines in Colorado over the years,
although none have been verified until M56, Inman said.
"He's not just a couple of miles across the border," Inman said. "He
has been in Colorado two weeks. He is currently at 11,000 feet."
Researchers have been tracking the animal by plane.
Although wolverines are relatively small, topping out at about 40
pounds, they have a tremendous range, approaching that of grizzly
bears, Inman said, as many as 500 square miles.
Biologists discovered this a few years ago when a collared animal left
Grand Teton National Park for Pocatello, Idaho, returned to the park
and then headed north to Gardiner, Mont. The animal eventually
returned to Wyoming.
"When M56 took off, we were ready for him," Inman said.
Mark Packila, a biologist and pilot in Inman's Ennis, Mont.-based
crew, tracked M56 from the sky, eventually handing off the task to
Colorado Division of Wildlife planes equipped with a radio receiver
tuned to the signal emitted by M56's collar.
Inman said M56 is looking for a mate.
"The males are territorial and will defend their territory from other
males," Inman said. "He is trying to find territory with females."
Wolverines were virtually wiped out in the Lower 48