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Distribution of female wolverines relative to snow cover, Alberta, Canada
Author(s) -
Webb Shevenell M.,
Anderson Robert B.,
Manzer Douglas L.,
Abercrombie Bill,
Bildson Brian,
Scrafford Matthew A.,
Boyce Mark S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.1002/jwmg.21137
Subject(s) - snow cover , geography , cover (algebra) , distribution (mathematics) , physical geography , snow , meteorology , engineering , mathematics , mathematical analysis , mechanical engineering
Wolverines ( Gulo gulo ) in the contiguous United States have been considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act, most recently based on the value of deep snow for the duration of the wolverine's denning season. We examined evidence for an obligate relationship between wolverines and spring snow cover using camera traps and long‐term fur harvests in Alberta. The proportion of traplines that harvested ≥1 wolverine was highest in the northwest Boreal Forest (0.3), where mean wolverine harvest density increased by 75% from the 1990s to 2000s. There was no difference in percent spring snow cover on traplines with a female ( n = 81) or no female ( n = 416) wolverine harvest in the Boreal Forest. Further, all female wolverines ( n = 8) positively identified from camera traps in the Boreal Forest, including 5 lactating females, were located within townships predicted to have no spring snow cover. Long‐term harvests and evidence of reproduction in areas with low amounts of spring snow cover in the Boreal Forest of northern Alberta suggest that wolverines may be more flexible in their distribution than previously assumed. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.