THE WOLVERINE.
Perhaps the most rare of all fur bearing animals, as well as the
least known, is the wolverine. This animal belongs to the marten
family and is the largest, strongest and most cunning of the genus;
in fact, is claimed to be the most cunning and wary of all the
furbearing animals, and among the trappers has an unenviable
reputation.
It is strictly a northern animal and is found scattered over the
greater portion of Canada and Alaska, ranging southward into the most
northern portion of the United States. In the Rocky mountain region
it is found as far south as Wyoming. They are not plentiful anywhere
and are probably found in the greatest numbers in the Alaskan
interior, Yukon, Mackenzie and northern British Columbia.
While the wolverine is classed among the martens it appears to be the
connecting link between the martens and the bears for it is stoutly
built and very bear-like in general appearance, also is a plantigrade
animal, walking on the entire sole of the foot. An average specimen
will measure about thirty inches from the end of the nose to the base
of the tail. The tail is about ten inches in length, exclusive of the
long hair and is very stumpy and bushy. The fur is long and flowing
and is fairly fine. The general color is a dull brown with black legs
and feet and a black patch about the eyes. A spot or stripe of
lighter color sweeps along the sides. The teeth are large and strong
and the curved claws are white, contrasting sharply with the black
fur of the feet and legs.
The wolverine makes its home in a burrow. As to the breeding habits
of the animal, my observations have been limited and I can give no
authentic information. Naturalists disagree as to the number of young
and the time of birth. Some claim that the young animals are born in
May, others put the time as late as December. As the other members of
the marten family give birth to their young in April and May, I think
it safe to assume that the young of the wolverine are born about the
same time, and that the number would be from three to five in a
litter.
The animal is a great traveler, straying sometimes thirty miles in
each direction from its home. It is not a rapid traveler, however,
and it is claimed that a man can easily outrun it.
The wolverine is also known under other fancy names, the most common
of which is "carcajou". In Europe it is called the "glutton" from its
supposed gluttonous appetite. Among the Indians of the northwest it
is known as the "mountain devil" and in British Columbia is sometimes
called the "skunk bear."
The animal really does bear some resemblance to the skunk in its
appearance and actions, the most noticeable of which is its habits of
raising its tail when disturbed or when it stops to listen to some
noise. Sometimes it will stand on its hind legs in order to get a
better view of some object which has aroused its interest.
The wolverine is not as active as the other members of the genus, but
its strength and cunning fully compensate for all that it lacks in
activity. It can seldom capture enough of game to satisfy its hunger,
therefore it seeks out and robs the caches of other animals, also
robs the traps of their bait and the captured animals. For this
reason the animal is despised and dreaded by the trapper. Once one
has found the trap line it will follow the trail to the end,
destroying the sets and eating the baits and catch. What it cannot
eat, it will carry away and conceal presumably for future use. It
will also sometimes enter the trapper's cabin and destroy or defile
all that it cannot eat.
Many strange stories are told of the animals cunning and of its evil
ways. While some of these tales are no doubt true, I feel safe in
saying that the majority have no foundation whatever. There is no
doubt that the wolverine is exceedingly wary and that it is a great
mischief maker, but the fact that the animal is not well known, has
led the nature writers to draw on their imaginations and these
wonderful stories are the result. We hear of the animal decoying deer
to its hiding place by dropping a bunch of moss for them to feed on,
and then springing upon the unsuspecting animal from a nearby limb.
We also read of the wolverine biting off the string of a set gun
without discharging the arm, so that it could eat the bait without
danger. That such stories are false goes without saying.
Not being plentiful in any one locality the animals are seldom
trapped and what few are caught are taken when they are visiting
camps or while robbing the traps of the bait and catch Trapping them
at all times is difficult work, owing to the natural wariness of the
animal. That the trap must be well concealed and that the animal must
be taken when off its guard will be evident to all. The No. 4 trap
should be used and only those which have strong springs, as the
wolverine possesses great strength.
The animals are not sought by the trapper and he may consider himself
lucky if there are none of them on his trapping ground. When they are
found, the trapper's aim is to get rid of them and the most certain
way appears to be by means of poison. When they visit the traps a
fair portion of strychnine placed in the bait will usually bring the
desired result.
[Illustration: The Pocket Gopher.]