The wolverine is the largest terrestrial member of the weasel family in North America. They are very rare but wide-ranging carnivores, traveling across mountains and forests in search of food.
Conservation status: Threatened
Few have ever set eyes on a wolverine (Gulo gulo) in the wild. A secretive wanderer of mountain ridges and forests, wolverines are perhaps the greatest symbol of the wilderness of the Rocky Mountains. Although they weigh less than most household dogs, this carnivore has a reputation for ferocity—researchers have recorded them hunting moose.
Wolverines are extremely rare. Some biologists believe there are only 300 in the contiguous US in total. This is, in part, because of their unique role in the ecosystem. Wolverines have big, flat feet to walk on top of deep snowpack, thick fur coats, and keen noses. Their reliance on snowpack for hunting and denning makes them extremely sensitive to climate change.
In late 2023, after decades of pressure from activists, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the population of wolverines in the contiguous US as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Physical Characteristics: 12 – 18 inches tall at shoulder, 24 – 48 inches long, and 15 – 35 lbs. Large, muscular, agile weasel with small head, bushy tail, short legs, and large paws with cinnamon-brown – nearly black fur. Pale tan stripe runs down each side from shoulder to tail. Possesses one of most powerful jaws of any mammal on planet. Has a reputation for ferocity that far out matches its size.
Diet: Incredibly powerful for size; have ability to take down deer, caribou, mountain goats, and occasionally moose, particularly if weakened in harsh winter or deep snow. Generally prey on mice, ground squirrels, birds, beavers, and other rodents. Adept scavengers particularly during winter months.
Habitat: Large territory encompassing great variety of habitats. During winter inhabit lower elevations/valleys in pursuit of prey. In summer occupy ridges/mountains (pursuit of prey), including sub-alpine/alpine landscapes. Regardless of season, require large/remote protected areas in order to survive, with little/no human disturbance.
Range: Very small populations in Canadian/Northern Rockies; roams coniferous forests of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Even smaller populations in Northern Cascades of Washington/Oregon, and Central Rockies of Colorado. Sightings in Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon. Best available science indicates less than 300 in Lower 48; Clearwater Basin one of last great strongholds.
Reproduction: Breeds from April – September but embryos do not implant until early winter if mother has adequate fat stores. Litter of 1 – 5 kits born between late-February and mid-April. Born blind and deaf; kits nurse for 8 – 9 weeks before leaving den with mother to acquire hunting skills. Kits typically spends first winter with mother, before sexually maturing and dispersing following spring.
Threats: Trapping, road building, logging, and recreation (motorized and non-motorized) have negatively impacted past two centuries. Climate change is serious concern; species depends on snow pack for habitat, denning, scavenging, and raising young.
Miscellaneous: Known as “skunk bear” because produces smell that rivals skunk. Abundant stinky scent produced in anal glands and used to mark territory. Wolverines and skunks are part of Mustelidae family. Wolverines also referred as “Symbol of Wilderness”.
The Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a tree found in high elevations. It is a keystone species of subalpine habitat, producing starchy pine nuts that many species rely on.
Conservation status: Threatened
It is a joy to see a mature whitebark pine. Unlike its neighbor the subalpine fir, which looks like a wizards hat in shape, the whitebark pine spreads its arms up, branches akimbo in the cold mountain air. Its broad canopy of needles all come in bunches of five, like its close relative the Western white pine.
The whitebark is adapted to the high mountains, in places above 6,000 feet (~1,800 meters). In this low-calorie landscape, the whitebark is a keystone species. Their starchy pine nuts sustain all sorts of high-elevation animals. Red squirrels create large caches of pine nuts, called middens, that grizzly bears often raid and devour, especially in fall and springtime.
A combination of forces have obliterated whole forests of whitebark pines. In late 2022, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the whitebark as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This listing marks the first occasion in which a tree regarded as ecologically important in the United States is acknowledged as vulnerable to extinction.
Species Description: Member of the white pine group. Needles in fascicles (bundles) of five with a deciduous sheath. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) has two needles per fascicle Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) have three needles per fascicle.
Physical Characteristics: Whitish to light gray bark of young trees, older trees are darker. Generally highest-elevation pine tree found in its range, marks tree line. May be dwarfed by wind and exposure, referred to as "creeping pine". Can grow to 29 meters (95 ft) in favorable conditions.
Ecology and Habitat: Trees are slow to mature and can live 1000 years.Produce seed cones after 25-30 years (peak production 60-80 years). Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) is the major seed disperser. Birds cache seeds in soil or gravelly substrate for future food source. Caches not retrieved contribute to forest regeneration. Thus, whitebark pine often grows in clumps of several trees, originating from a seed cache. Other animals also depend upon seeds. Douglas squirrels cache seed in middens. Grizzly bears and American black bears raid middens as an important pre-hibernation food. Squirrels, northern flickers, and mountain bluebirds use trees for nesting.
Range: Found at high elevation in Rocky Mountains, central British Columbia to western Wyoming and subalpine forests of Montana and Idaho. It occurs in the timberline zone of the Cascades and coastal ranges from British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada.
Threats: Most significant threat is white pine blister rust, a fungal disease introduced from Europe. More recent threats are mainly due to climate change such as expansion of native mountain pine beetles to higher elevations and altered forest succession. Warmer climate favors spreading of insect and fungal disease. Changes in fire regime (from climate or fire suppression) may affect insect and disease impacts or competition with other trees.
Misc: Native Americans roasted pine seeds, made porridge, and mixed seeds with berries.
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