Types of Wolverines

There is only one type of wolverine, although the creature lives in many parts of the world. The scientific name for them is gula and they are related to the weasel family and wolverines are the only living member of this genus or species. They are short, stocky animals, 25-30 inches long and have shaggy hair and big paws.

It can have mahogany brown fur, black and some white on its body. The species tend to vary in color and their sharp claws and large paws are used to hunting prey. Another name for the wolverine is the mountain devil or skunk bear.

Where It Lives

Wolverines live in forests, in the arctic, plains or tundra located in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are creatures that like solitude and need room to roam freely. Wolverines live in cold climates in Russia, Canada and Scandinavia too.

In the United States, it is found in Alaska, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Mountains. In Canada, it is known to live in high elevation mountains,  boreal forests, tundra, and plains.

What It Eats / How Often It Eats

They like to eat meat primarily and hunt small animals, rabbits, rodents and sometimes attack larger animals if they appear to be weak or injured. They will feed on the corpses of animals like deer, elk and caribou. This often helps them survive the winter when there is less prey around.

They are known to dig into burrows and eat hibernating animals too. They do eat plants and berries in the warmer weather. Wolverines feed on wounded or dead animals that are not a threat to them when food is scarce.

Other types of food it eats are bird eggs, insects, roots, seeds and lavaw. It eats a variety of foods.

How It Gets Food

Wolverines often hunt at night and use smell to find wounded or dead carcasses to feed on. They look for small animals that are easy to kill . Sometimes they will attack a wounded animal and in some regions attack sheep to find food.

These animals adapt to the season and are flexible … Read the rest of the story.

from Nature Nibble https://ift.tt/HFGkc1M