First Wolverine Sighting Outside of Its Usual Habitat in 30 Years

For the first time in over 30 years, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that a wolverine has been sighted outside its typical roaming area. Check out the news for more information.

On Monday, two individuals fishing in the Columbia River near Portland caught sight of the largest member of the weasel family, which is considered a threatened species in Oregon. This animal is typically found in the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon and has not been observed outside of that region for many years.

David Keiter, the district wildlife biologist of ODFW, expressed his surprise and delight upon receiving and verifying a report about a sighting near Portland. The proximity of the location to Portland added to their astonishment.

In an effort to trace the origin of a wolverine, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) joined forces with nonprofit organization Cascadia Wild to employ cameras and hair-collecting devices. The goal is to cross-reference the genetic samples of the wolverine with other samples to determine its point of origin. However, due to the fact that wolverines can travel up to 30 miles a day, it is unlikely that the animal will return to the area, as reported by ODFW.

According to a statement, the animal was probably on the move due to the unsuitability of the local habitat for wolverines’ life history needs.

Alaska and Canada are the primary habitats for Wolverines, although they also exist in Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, and Idaho. In 1936, it was believed that Wolverines had been entirely eliminated from Oregon. Despite sporadic sightings, their population remains small in the region.