The Wolverine (Gulo Gulo)
By: Nick Meier
Although wolverines are usually carnivorous their diet of mostly meat with some vegetation makes them omnivourous.
Wolverines are some of the most ferocious animals and are known to attack animals many times its size(generally 5 ft from head to tip of tail) such as, moose, caribou, and anything threatening it.
Wolverines Are known to eat all the body parts of their victims including,Bones(specifically the marrow) ,Muscle,fat,organs,and occasionally even hair
Search And Rescue
Some wolverines are being trained for search and rescue. They are trained to sniff out the human dig them up and of course not maul them to death. Some wolverines are already in the process of being trained like Kayla and Kasper two wolverines training with Mike Miller of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center who was the original proposer of using wolverines for search and rescue. information in this paragraph baseed upon "Wolverines: The Future of Search and Rescue." Outside Online. 2016. Web. 25 May 2016. <http://www.outsideonline.com/2067281/wolverines-future-search-and-rescue>.
Identification Structure & Function
Wolverines tend to be brown with light brown stripes, they usually weigh about 24 to 40 lbs and are on average 33 to 44 inches from head to tail. There really isn't a difference between male and female wolverines other than their anatomical differences (Male parts and Female parts) which are the same as a humans
Body organization/ structure
Wolverines have circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, Nervous, Excretory, and Skeletal/muscular systems. Their feet are like snowshoes and their fur is so dense that they do not melt the snow when they lay in it.
Behavior/ Communication
Wolverines are ferocious and territorial even to their own species and communicate through howling and some growl.
Classification
Domain: Eukaryotes
Similar Species
Otters, Badgers, and Weasels.
How the animal obtains food
Wolverines are omnivores with scavenger and carnivore like characteristics. They have a great sense of smell and will sniff out carcasses of dead animals after an avalanche but if given a chance will most likely attack any animal in its path.
Reproduction
Wolverines Reproduce Sexually in a polygamous fashion, meaning the male usually mates with multiple females in a mating season of may to august. Most females give birth in February and March
Growth and Development
Wolverines are Born white and stay with the mother for about 8-9 weeks until they begin to travel. They are usually fully grown and independent from their mother in September. Their usual Life expectancy is 5-13 years.
How are wolverines doing in terms of being endangered/How has The Wolverines population changed in the past century?
Wolverines are not endangered however their territory has dramatically shrunk.
In the Video below I have to skip to 26 seconds to skip a curse
Wolverines Are the Honey Badgers of the North