Wolverine or Badger?

May 3, 2024

Question: I came upon a dead animal in Santa Barbara County that I first thought was a wolverine. It turned out to be a badger. Is that a common mistake?

Answer: From a distance it could be possible to make that mistake, but a closer look reveals the big differences between the two animals. First, wolverines are substantially larger, weighing up to 60 pounds, and can grow beyond three feet in length. Badgers are roughly two thirds the size of a wolverine and much lighter in weight. Wolverines have been described as looking like a combination of a bear and a dog, while badgers have shorter bodies and a distinctive white stripe running from their snout up and over its forehead.

Their habitats would also assist in identifying the animal. While badgers can be found living in deserts, grasslands and mountains, wolverines are fond of cold areas and are usually found in alpine settings.

Wolverines are also rare in California. The most recent wolverine sighting in California was in winter 2023 when what appeared to be the same animal, was spotted several times high in the Eastern Sierra. The previous confirmed wolverine sighting in California was in 2018. Prior to that, a wolverine hadn’t been seen in California since the 1920s.

CDFW appreciates sightings reported to the Wildlife Incident Reporting web site ( https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ) or to regional offices, as the information can assist biologists in their research.

Badgers are roughly two thirds the size of a wolverine and much lighter in weight.

No wonder Michigan crushes Wisconsin most of the time.