It doesn’t get much wilder than a wolverine

These cold-weather critters have a ton of fighting spirit – open to learn more! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Wolverine Headshot © Pixabay]( Big fighting spirit comes in little packages! What’s a wolverine? It’s a skunk bear, a carcajou, a nasty cat – the wolverine goes by many names, because it’s iconic to many people! Wolverines have thick, dark fur that’s highly resistant to frost, and they often have a lighter stripe that goes all the way to their long bushy tails. If you watch a wolverine walk, you’ll see that they walk flat on the soles of their feet, like bears. And they do a lot of walking – wolverines can establish a territory as large as 200 square miles or more. Where can they be found? Wolverines can be found all around the northern reaches of the globe. In North America, they mostly live in Alaska and Canada, and they once ranged as far south as New Mexico. Sadly, the same fur that allows them to thrive in cold weather made them attractive targets for trappers, who effectively wiped them out in the lower 48 during the 19th century. Recently, wolverines are making a slow return to some places they haven’t been seen for decades. But their habitat is still badly fragmented by human development, and rising temperatures are making it harder for female wolverines to find the snowpack they need to build dens and raise their kits during the winter. So what's happening now? The good news is that wolverines were recently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the lower 48. Defenders advocated and fought in court for over two decades, and we’re thrilled that wolverines will finally get some much-needed protections from the ESA. Work is also underway to bring them back to their historic home in the mountains of Colorado. But the fight isn’t over – Montana and Idaho are already preparing to challenge that listing. And even with protections, wolverines are still deeply affected by climate change as the snow they depend on continues to disappear. How can I help? Wolverines are showing their fierce fighting spirit by making a slow comeback. Now it’s up to us to give them a chance to thrive. You can help by avoiding closed areas in wolverine habitat during winter recreation, supporting laws to protect imperiled wildlife, and pushing for real action from our leaders to fight the climate crisis. [Get the scoop on wolverines!]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036 defenders.org --------------------------------------------------------------- Photo credit: Wolverine Headshot © Pixabay This email was sent to {EMAIL} Please do not respond to this email. [Unsubscribe here]( or update your preferences [here!]( [supporter]