Wolverine

June 15, 2023

Question: I enjoyed reading about the wolverine that was observed in the Eastern Sierra. What type of follow-up work does CDFW do to learn more about the animal?

Answer: Yes, CDFW confirmed last month ( https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/rare-sighting-of-wolverine-confirmed-in-multiple-california-counties#gsc.tab=0 ) that multiple sightings of what is believed to be the same wolverine occurred in Inyo, Mono and Tuolumne counties. The detections are exciting given that only two wolverines have been confirmed in California during the last 100 years. CDFW is conducting follow-up field work in the vicinity of the sightings. Our scientists and field staff set up remote cameras with bait and scent lures intended to attract the wolverine. We also set up hair snares to collect samples for genetic analysis. Additionally, we scoured the sighting areas for tracks and scat. The goal is to obtain genetic samples from the wolverine so we can determine its sex and potentially where it originated from.