Multiple rare sightings of a wolverine have been reported in California’s eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. Two have been spotted in Inyo National Forest and one in Yosemite National Park. All three sightings occurred in May.
“Wolverines can travel great distances, making it likely that the recent sightings are all of the same animal,” said Daniel Gammons in a statement. Gammons is a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). “Because only two wolverines have been confirmed in California during the last 100 years, these latest detections are exciting.”
Between 2008 and 2018 a single wolverine was tracked by scientists in California. Since the species’ lifespan averages around 12 to 13 years, it’s believed these recent sightings were of a different animal.
Before 2008, one hadn’t been confirmed in the Golden State since the 1920s.
A wolverine at Yosemite National Park in California, May 2023. Courtesy of Yosemite National Park
Although they look similar to a small bear, wolverines are a large species of weasel. They are typically 33 to 44 inches long and generally weigh between 17 and 40 pounds. Most of the population in North America can be found in Canada and Alaska.
Wolverines are listed as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act and classified as fully protected.
25 to 300 wild wolverines are estimated to be in the lower 48 states of the U.S., according to the CDFW.
The CDFW, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service plan to collect genetic samples from the wolverine through saliva, hair, and dung found at feeding sites. The public is encouraged by the CDFW to report any sightings through its Wildlife Incident Reporting System.
