DOCSLIB.ORG

Caribou, Grizzly Bear, and Moose Activity Along Proposed Routes to the Ambler Mining District, Alaska

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Caribou, Grizzly Bear, and Moose Activity Along Proposed Routes to the Ambler Mining District, Alaska National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Caribou, grizzly bear, and moose activity along proposed routes to the Ambler Mining District, Alaska Natural Resource Report NPS/GAAR/NRR—2016/1283 ON THE COVER Caribou crossing the Kobuk River, September 2010 (top) Paws of a Brooks Range grizzly bear, June 2015 (left) Bull moose and frosted shrubs, November 2015 (right) Photographs by: Kyle Joly Caribou, grizzly bear, and moose activity along proposed routes to the Ambler Mining District, Alaska Natural Resource Report NPS/GAAR/NRR—2016/1283 Kyle Joly, Matthew D. Cameron, and Mathew S. Sorum Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve 4175 Geist Road Fairbanks, AK 99709 August 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Data in this report were collected and analyzed using methods based on established, peer-reviewed protocols and were analyzed and interpreted within the guidelines of the protocols. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available from The National Park Service, Central Alaska Network website (http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/cakn) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm). To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Joly, K., Cameron, M. D., and Sorum, M. S. 2016. Caribou, grizzly bear, and moose activity along proposed routes to the Ambler Mining District, Alaska. Natural Resource Report NPS/GAAR/NRR—2016/1283. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 185/133874, August 2016 ii Contents Page Figures................................................................................................................................................... iv Tables .................................................................................................................................................... vi Abstract ...............................................................................................................................................viii Acknowledgments ...............................................................................................................................viii Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Study Area ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 4 Ambler Routes and Habitat Characteristics ................................................................................... 4 Caribou Data ................................................................................................................................... 4 Grizzly Bear Data ........................................................................................................................... 4 Moose Data ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Crossing Analyses .......................................................................................................................... 7 Results .................................................................................................................................................... 9 Proposed northern and southern route characteristics .................................................................... 9 Caribou ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Bears ............................................................................................................................................. 17 Moose ........................................................................................................................................... 25 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................ 32 Literature Cited .................................................................................................................................... 34 iii Figures Page Figure 1. Proposed northern and southern routes of the right-of-way to the Ambler Mining District. ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. Walker Lake and the Brooks Range mountains .................................................................... 3 Figure 3. Annual range of the Western Arctic Caribou Herd in relation to the northern and southern proposed Ambler routes, Alaska. ..................................................................................... 5 Figure 4. Grizzly bear study area in relation to the northern and southern proposed Ambler routes, Alaska. .......................................................................................................................... 6 Figure 5. Moose study area in relation to proposed northern and southern Ambler routes, Alaska. ................................................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 6. Lichen habitat (yellow areas) found along the northern route. Photo: K. Joly. ..................... 9 Figure 7. Histogram of elevation (m) percentage based on points in 250m intervals along the proposed northern (solid line) and southern (dashed) routes. ........................................................ 10 Figure 8. Histogram of slope (degrees) measured at 250m intervals along the proposed northern Ambler route (solid line) and southern route (dashed). ......................................................... 10 Figure 9. Histogram of aspect in 10º bins for percentage of points placed in 250m interval along the proposed northern (solid line) and southern (dashed) routes .................................. 11 Figure 10. Vectors of Western Arctic Herd caribou crossing the proposing northern route to the Ambler Mining District, Alaska, 2010-2015. ............................................................................ 12 Figure 11. Vectors of Western Arctic Herd caribou crossing the proposing southern route to the Ambler Mining District, Alaska, 2010-2015. ............................................................................ 13 Figure 12. Histogram of elevation in meters, binned in 25m increments, for percentage of caribou crossing locations on the proposed northern (solid black) and southern (dashed) routes. ................................................................................................................................................... 15 Figure 13. Histogram of degree of slope for percentage of caribou crossing locations on the proposed northern (solid line) and southern routes (dashed). ........................................................ 16 Figure 14. Histogram of aspect for percentage of caribou crossing locations along the proposed northern Ambler route (solid black) and the southern route (dashed) .................................. 16 Figure 15. Grizzly bear vectors crossing proposed northern route from 2014-2015. ......................... 18 Figure 16. Grizzly bear vectors crossing proposed southern route from 2014-2015. ......................... 19 Figure 17. Histogram of elevation, binned in 25m increments, for percentage of grizzly bear crossing locations on the proposed northern (solid black) and southern routes (dashed). ..............................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Grizzly Bear Fact Sheet
    Identify Grizzly from Black Bears Grizzly bears typically weigh 100-200 kg (females) to 200-300 kg (males) which is slightly more than black bears. Grizzly bears have a shoulder hump, range in colour from blonde to black and may have silver or light- tipped guard hairs on their head, hump and back. A grizzly bear’s ears are rounded and appear smaller than the black bear, while the black bear has more pointed, noticeable ears and no shoulder hump. Grizzly bear claws are longer than those of black bears and may have a light-coloured stripe. In grizzly bear ISBN: 978-0-7785-8683-8 (Printed Version) tracks, the tips of the front claws usu- 978-0-7785-8683-8 (Online Version) ally leave imprints in front of the paw Printed July 2009 pad, and the toes are set in a nearly straight line. In black bear tracks, the claw imprints are difficult to see, and the front toes form an obvious arc. Reproduction Range Grizzly bear numbers are limited by a slow reproductive rate. This is Grizzly bears can be found caused by a relatively high age of first reproduction, small litter siz- in Alberta from the Montana es, and long periods between litters. In Alberta, most female grizzlies border, along the mountains do not have their first litter until they are at least four years old and and foothills and continuing usually have only one or two cubs. The cubs are born in January or north through the western February and stay with their mother for two to five years.
    [Show full text]
  • How People Should Respond When Encountering a Large Carnivore: Opinions of Wildlife Professionals Dy L a N E
    Human–Wildlife Conflicts 2(2):194–199, Fall 2008 How people should respond when encountering a large carnivore: opinions of wildlife professionals DYLA N E. BRO wn , 507 Silo Loop, Kinsey, Montana 59338, USA [email protected] MI C HAEL R. CO N OVER , Jack H. Berryman Institute, Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-5230, USA Abstract: We conducted telephone surveys of wildlife professionals who work with large carnivores to ask their opinions about how people should respond to avoid being injured when confronted by a black bear (Ursus americana), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), mountain lion (Puma concolor), or gray wolf (Canis lupus). The respondents agreed that the most appropriate response was to try to increase the distance between a person and the carnivore. In the event of an attack by a black bear, mountain lion, or wolf, most respondents said to fight back. Opinion was divided over the best response for an individual who was being attacked by a grizzly bear, but a slight majority of professionals said to fight back if the attack was predatory and be passive if the attack was defensive; however, respondents also noted that many victims would be unable to identify the bear’s motive. If a black bear came into camp, most respondents said that a person should aggressively encourage the bear to leave and to fight back against a bear that enters a tent at night, regardless of species. Respondents unanimously agreed that bear pepper-spray is effective in defending against an attack. While any encounter with a large carnivore can be fatal to the person involved, we believe that selecting the right course of action increases the odds that the victim can escape without injury.
    [Show full text]
  • Predation by a Golden Eagle on a Brown Bear Cub
    SHORT COMMUNICATION N Sørensen et al. Predation by a golden eagle on a brown bear cub Ole J. Sørensen1,4, Mogens Totsa˚ s2, Tore eagles attending bears. Murie hypothesized that Solstad2, and Robin Rigg3 eagles attending bears were waiting for opportunities to capture prey trying to escape from the bears. He 1North-Trondelag University College, Department of also observed eagles swooping at and diving low over Natural Resource Sciences and Information Technology, grizzlies and other carnivores, but interpreted this Box 2501, N-7729 Steinkjer, Norway behavior as play or curiosity, rather than predation. 2 Norwegian Nature Inspectorate, N-7485 Trondheim, C. McIntyre (US National Park Service, Fair- Norway 3 banks, Alaska, USA, personal communication, 2008), Slovak Wildlife Society, PO Box 72, 033 01 Liptovsky a golden eagle researcher in Denali National Park for Hradok, Slovakia many years, has never seen an eagle attack a bear, although she has often observed eagles following Abstract: During spring 2004 an adult female brown bears in open terrain, perhaps positioning themselves bear (Ursus arctos) and her 3 cubs-of-the-year were to take prey escaping from the bear as suggested by observed outside their den on a south-facing low- Murie. Commensalistic hunting, as well as curious or alpine slope in central Norway. They remained near play behavior by eagles in the vicinity of bears, could the den for 8–10 days and were, except for one day, be misinterpreted as eagles hunting, attacking, or observed daily by Totsa˚s and other wardens of the inspecting bears as possible prey. Predation by eagles Norwegian Nature Inspectorate.
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of the Lake Trout Introduction in Yellowstone Lake on Populations Outside the Aquatic a Meta-Analytic Study
    Migrate, Mutate, or Die: The effects of the lake trout introduction in Yellowstone Lake on populations outside the aquatic A Meta-Analytic Study By Sarah Z. Gandhi-Besbes University of Colorado at Boulder A thesis submitted to the University of Colorado at Boulder in partial fulfilment of the requirements to receive Honours designation in Environmental Studies May 2016 Thesis Advisors: Alexander Cruz, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Committee Chair Dale Miller, Environmental Studies Andrew Martin, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology © 2016 by Sarah Z. Gandhi-Besbes All rights reserved i Abstract Yellowstone National Park is a relatively pristine ecosystem preserved through time. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri population, inhabiting shallower waters in Yellowstone Lake and spawning in its tributaries, has been declining primarily due to the introduction of a predatory fish. The lake trout Salvelinus namaycush, which rapidly grow to large sizes, feed on the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, breed and spawn in Yellowstone Lake, and dwell in deeper waters out of predatory reach. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout is relied upon both directly and indirectly by more than 40 species within Yellowstone National Park. The grizzly bear Ursus arctos horribilis, bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus, and osprey Pandion halaetus all feed directly on the spawning fish. This study looks at how the declining Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations affect these predatory populations, and what their populations may look like should current trends continue into the year 2030. Conducting a meta-analysis and collecting primary data allowed for statistical projections predicting and comparing estimated future populations. The ecological change in Yellowstone Lake provides insight into how the concerns of one ecosystem affects multiple.
    [Show full text]
  • Yellowstone Grizzly Bears: Ecology and Conservation of an Icon of Wildness
    YELLOWSTONE GRIZZLY BEARS ecology and conservation of an ICON OF WILDNESS EDITED BY P.J. White, Kerry A. Gunther, and Frank T. van Manen YELLOWSTONE GRIZZLY BEARS Yellowstone Grizzly Bears: Ecology and Conservation of an Icon of Wildness Editors P. J. White, Kerry A. Gunther, and Frank T. van Manen Contributing Authors Daniel D. Bjornlie, Amanda M. Bramblett, Steven L. Cain, Tyler H. Coleman, Jennifer K. Fortin-Noreus, Kevin L. Frey, Mark A. Haroldson, Pauline L. Kamath, Eric G. Reinertson, Charles T. Robbins, Daniel J. Thompson, Daniel B. Tyers, Katharine R. Wilmot, and Travis C. Wyman Managing Editor Jennifer A. Jerrett YELLOWSTONE FOREVER, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK AND U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCIENCE CENTER Yellowstone Forever, Yellowstone National Park 82190 Published 2017 Contents Printed in the United States of America All chapters are prepared solely by officers or employees of the United States Preface ix government as part of their official duties and are not subject to copyright protection Daniel N. Wenk, Superintendent, Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Foreign copyrights may apply. National Park Service (NPS) photographs are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Foreign Introduction xv copyrights may apply. However, because this work may contain other copyrighted images or other incorporated material, permission from the copyright holder may be P. J. White, Kerry A. Gunther, and Frank T. van Manen necessary. Cover and half title images: www.revealedinnature.com by Jake Davis. Chapter 1: The Population 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data P. J. White, Kerry A. Gunther, and Travis C.
    [Show full text]
  • 47 C. OTHER FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES WITHIN the RANGE SPOTTED OWL 47 Oregon Silverspot Butterfly 47 Aleutian Canada Goose 48
    47 C. OTHER FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES WITHIN THE RANGE SPOTTED OWL 47 Oregon Silverspot Butterfly 47 Aleutian Canada Goose 48 Bald Eagle 49 Peregrine Falcon 50 Gray Wolf 50 Grizzly Bear 51 Columbian White-tailed Deer C. Other Fe Range of the No Nine wildlife species within the range of the northern spotted owl are listed by the federal government as threatened or endangered: the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, Oregon silverspot butterfly, Aleutian Canada goose, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, gray wolf, grizzly bear, and Columbian white-tailed deer. Discussions of species ecology for the spotted owl and marbled murrelet are found in Sections A and B of this chapter, respectively. Habitat needs of the other seven species are reviewed below, followed by Table 111.8, which lists for each of the nine species its federal and state status and in which HCP planning unit each could potentially occur. on Silvers The Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) is the only federally listed species of arthropod that is found in Washington (WDW 1993a). This butterfly is currently listed by the federal government as threatened and by the state as endangered. However, no critical habitat in I Washington has been designated under the Endangered Species Act (WDW 1993b). The Oregon silverspot is found only in habitats that support its larval host plant, western blue violet (Viola adunca). Such habitats include coastal salt-spray meadows and open fields. In Washington, potential habitat for the Oregon silverspot is limited to the coastal grasslands on the Long Beach peninsula near Loomis Lake (WDW 199313; WDW 1991).Adult butterflies are thought to rest and feed in adjacent open spruce/shoreline pine forest glades, where they are protected from wind and can feed on nectar available from a number of plant species.
    [Show full text]
  • Determining the Importance of Grizzly Bear Predation on Southern
    Determining the importance of grizzly bear predation on southern mountain caribou populations Results to Date – February 2015: Objective 2: Model the probability of caribou mortality by grizzly bears and assess variation associated with biological factors and landscape characteristics. During the summer of 2014, we visited 175 clusters from 8 grizzly bears - 3 adult males and 5 adult females. We found 25 ungulate carcass sites. Of the 25 carcasses, three were confirmed caribou; one was a mountain goat, one a mule deer and the remainder (20) were moose. We are in the process of classifying carcasses likely killed by the bear or scavenged. We found several carcasses we suspect were killed by cougars that the bear subsequently fed on. Clusters dating from mid May to mid September were visited but some clusters were missed due to forest fires, weather, and helicopter availability. In addition, we were restricted from flying into the mountains (with the exception of Jasper) after the 22 August due to concerns expressed by ESRD of disturbing hunters which halted cluster visits for 4 of the female bears. Data analysis with this interim data is beginning and will be used to further refine cluster selection for the second and final year (2015) of this project. Objective 3: Feeding trials to validate and assess the amount of caribou in the diet of grizzly bear using stable isotopes found in bear hair This work was done in collaboration with Dr. Charlie Robbins and Joy Erlenbach at the Bear Research, Conservation, and Education Center at Washington State University in Pullman Washington where they have captive grizzly bears used for research purposes.
    [Show full text]
  • Prod505870.Pdf
    CURRENT POPULATION STATUS OF BLACK BEAR, GRIZZLY BEAR, COUGAR and WOLF IN THE SKAGIT RIVER WATERSHED BY TONY BARNARD FOR MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AUGUST, 1986 -·--- --- -- - - - ------ ----- ---- ----------- - --- - TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES. iii LIST OF FIGURES . i V 1.0 INTRODUCTION .. 1 2.0 STUDY AREA DESCRIPTION. 1 3.0 METHODS .. 4 4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . 5 4.1 Black Bear ........ 5 4.2 Grizzly Bear ....... 6 4.3 Cougar. 9 4.4 Wolf.. 14 REFERENCES .. 18 APPENDICES. 20 ii . ----· ·----- -· ·--- -- - ---·· -··- I I LIST OF TABLES Table Page I 1. Grizzly Bear Sightings Within the Skagit River Watershed--1972-85 ... 7 I 2. Cougar Sightings in the Skagit River Watershed--1985-86 ..•.••... 12 3. Wolf Sightings in the Skagit River I Watershed--1980-86 ..•..•••..••.... 15 I I I I I I I I I I I I I iii I I I LIST OF FIGURES I Figures Page 1. Geographical Location of the Skagit I River Watershed ........ 2 2. Deer Fawns Can Be Preyed Upon by Foraging I Black Bears in the Spring. ... 3 3. Location of Grizzly Bear Sightings in the Study Area and Adjacent Areas of I the State of Washington, U.S.A ..... " . 8 4. A Successful Cougar Hunt in the Lower I Skagit Valley--Winter, 1976-77 ....•..... 10 5. Location of Cougar Sightings in the Study Area . 13 I 6. Location of Wolf Sightings in the Study Area and Adjacent Areas of the State of I Washington, U.S.A ................. 16 I I I I I I I I I iv I 1.0 INTRODUCTION In January, 1986 the Fish and Wildlife Branch submitted a request for funding of certain wildlife studies in the Skagit River watershed to the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission (Barnard, 1986).
    [Show full text]
  • Interactions Between Wolves and Female Grizzly Bears with Cubs in Yellowstone National Park
    SHORTCOMMUNICATIONS Interactions between wolves and female grizzly bears with cubs in Yellowstone National Park A. 3 Kerry Gunther1 and Douglas W. Smith2'4 adult males, solitary adult females, and female grizzly bears accompaniedby yearling or 2-year-old offspring Bear ManagementOffice, PO Box 168, Yellowstone would occasionally usurp wolf-killed ungulates and National WY Park, 82190, USA scavenge the remains. We hypothesized that these 2Wolf PO Box YellowstoneNational Project, 168, Park, cohorts of grizzly bears would be more successful than WY,82190, USA subadultsat usurpingwolf-kills. We furtherhypothesized Key words: Canis lupus, cub bear, mortality, grizzly that due to potential danger to cubs, females with cubs interferencecompetition, interspecific killing, klepto- would not attemptto displacewolf packs from theirkills. Ursus Yellowstone National parasitism, arctos, wolf, Our of interactions between Park monitoring interspecific wolves and bears is From wolf Ursus15(2):232-238 (2004) grizzly ongoing. reintroductionin 1995 until Januaryof 2003, 96 wolf- grizzly bear interactionshave been recorded(Ballard et al. 2003; D. Smith, National Park Service, Yellowstone NationalPark, Wyoming, USA, unpublisheddata). Here we observationsof interactionsbetween wolves Gray wolves (Canis lupus) were extirpated from report and female bears with cubs and evidence of wolf Yellowstone NationalPark (YNP) by the 1920s through grizzly bear cubs near carcasses. Due to predatorcontrol actions (Murie 1940,Young and Gold- packs killing grizzly man 1944, Weaver 1978), then reintroducedinto the grizzly bears' low reproductiverate (Schwartz et al. and statusas a threatened park from 1995 to 1996 to restore ecological integrity 2003) species (USFWS 1993), the effects of wolves on carcass and cub and adhere to legal mandates (Bangs and Fritts 1996, availability survival is an Phillips and Smith 1996, Smith et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Coyote's Swallowing Match with Grizzly Bear
    Rooted in the Molala Tribe history is the story of the Coyote and the Bear. The following is from Coyote Was Going There, INDIAN LITERATURE OF THE OREGON COUNTRY, Compiled and edited by Jarold Ramsey. Coyote’s Swallowing Match with Grizzly Bear Coyote was going up toward Mt. Hood. He met Grizzly Bear. Grizzly Bear said, “Where are you going, Coyote?” Coyote said, “I am going up country.” “Why are you going there?” asked Grizzly Bear. Coyote said, “I am making the world.” Then Grizzly Bear said, “We must fight.” Coyote said, “No, we must have a swallowing match.” Grizzly said, “No! We must fight a duel.” Coyote said, “We will swallow stones.” Grizzly said, “Go ahead, we will swallow them.” Coyote said, “We must have them very hot.” “How many hot rocks?” asked Grizzly. Coyote said, “You swallow first, then I will.” Then Grizzly Bear swallowed a hot stone, “Now it’s your turn”, he said. Then Coyote said, “Yes,” and began to swallow strawberries, not rocks! He fooled Grizzly, he swallowed five strawberries. Then Coyote told Grizzly, “Now you must swallow five hot stones.” “All right,” said Grizzly. Then he commenced swallowing hot rocks, they burst his heart, and he died. Now Coyote sat down and studied. “Now I must go, I am going on forever. He is gone now; the world is going to last so long!” He skinned Grizzly, then began cutting him up; he scattered his body in little pieces all over. Then to the Molala country he threw the heart. He said, “Now the Molala will be good hunters; they will all be good men, thinking and studying about hunting deer.
    [Show full text]
  • Could Colorado See the Return of Grizzlies, Wolves and Wild Bison? Here’S How Montanans Coexist with Them
    Could Colorado see the return of grizzlies, wolves and wild bison? Here’s how Montanans coexist with them. Up north, grizzlies are roaming in places they haven’t been in decades and there are enough wolves that hunters are allowed to shoot five apiece Published on Aug 8, 2019 5:01AM MDT Environment Primary category in which blog post is published Jennifer Brown @jenbrowncolo KALISPELL, Montana — The latest grizzly bear killed by Montana officials was a relatively small, 278-pounder who ate 40 sheep and lambs in a two-week span, unfazed by four guard dogs and a range rider on a four-wheeler who tried to chase it away. The bear, euthanized July 19 outside of Great Falls, was the 20th grizzly so far this season killed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks or hit by a car or train along the Northern Continental Divide. The region’s human-related grizzly deaths are on par with last year’s record-setting season, a result of a growing population of both bears and people. “We’ve got bears right now in areas where we haven’t seen them in decades,” said Dillon Tabish, a Kalispell-based education program manager for the state wildlife department. As Coloradans face questions about whether to reintroduce the grizzly — and fellow titan of the forest, the gray wolf — the state can look to its northwestern neighbors, where the native animals are making a comeback after decades on the brink of extinction. A recently filed lawsuit demands the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service explore reintroducing grizzlies to Colorado, while a petition about to circulate in Colorado would put the question of wolf reintroduction on the November 2020 ballot.
    [Show full text]
  • Wolverine EN
    Introduction This animal • generally prefers remote areas, far away from humans and development • can travel up to 40 km during its daily hunting activities • is known by a variety of descriptive names, including “skunk-bear,” because it marks its food and various landmarks with urine and musk • has one of the most striking fur characteristics of Canadian mammals Description Although the Wolverine Gulo gulo belongs to the weasel family, Mustelidae, it is not as long and lean as typical weasels, but rather short and thick, like a small bear. Its head is broad and round, with small eyes and short rounded ears. Its legs are short and sturdy, with five toes on each foot. Its long, curved claws are semi- retractile, which means they can be partly drawn back in, and they are used for climbing and digging. Its teeth are strong, and its head, neck, and shoulder muscles are well-developed. These adaptations allow the Wolverine to feed on frozen flesh and bone, a survival tactic for the harsh and remote environments in which they reside. An adult Wolverine is about the size of a medium- sized dog. Adult males weigh about 12 to 18 kg, adult females about 8 to 12 kg. Wolverines that live in the north of their range are usually larger than those living farther south. The Wolverine has one of the most striking furs among of all fur-bearing animals. Its fur is typically a rich, glossy, dark brown. Two pale stripes originate at the nape of its neck and sweep along each flank to merge at the base of its long, bushy tail.
    [Show full text]