Wolverine - the mountain's refuse collector

Created: May 30, 2022 9:57 AM

Gulo gulo

Height: 30 - 45 cm

Weight: 10 - 25 kg

The wolverine is our largest mustelid. The brown-black coat, the loping gait and the size make it easy to recognise at a distance. The wolverine is a loner that keeps to itself. Even the mothers soon tire of their young, which have to leave home before they are seven months old. The wolverine is not a particularly good hunter, and feeds first and foremost on the carcasses of dead animals. Under the right snow conditions the wolverine can nonetheless have an advantage with its large paws - and can then take, for example, reindeer that have to struggle more in the deep snow.

The wolverine stores food in particular caches that are spread around its territory. It also has a den. This often has several rooms, with different uses. Bedroom, dining room and toilet. Does that sound familiar?

What if you meet a wolverine?

The wolverine is very shy, and you will usually only catch sight of it in the mountains at a distance while it flees in the opposite direction.

Next steps

• Wildlife and tracks — the hub
• The lynx — other large predators
• The wolf — other large predators
• The brown bear — other large predators

Learn more

• Artsdatabanken — species, status, Red List
• Miljødirektoratet — large carnivores — management
• NINA — Norsk institutt for naturforskning — research on Norwegian fauna
• Naturveilederen — Bjørn Henrik Stavdal Johansen — nature interpretation