Wolverine

ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE

- BY JO CAIRD

FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE WORD 'wolverine' will conjure up the image of a ripped Hollywood superhero, rather than a bearlike creature the size of a dog that lives in the snowy forests, tundra and mountains of the northern hemisphere. But the real-life wolverine is a remarkable creature: a formidable predator, highly territorial and brilliantly adapted to its frigid habitat.

Is a wolverine a wolf or a bear?

Though they look like a cross between the two, wolverines are actually the largest land mustelid, a group that also includes badgers, ferrets, martens, otters and polecats. There are two subspecies of wolverine, the North American and the European, though the differences between the two are genetic rather than aesthetic or behavioural.

Where do wolverines live?

Wolverines can be found across the northern latitudes of Asia, Europe and North America, inhabiting cold, snowy environments that include boreal forests, tundra and mountains. The species used to be found in more southerly areas of Europe and North America, but human activities including hunting and forest clearances have caused a significant contraction of its range.

What's special about their fur?