http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/First+documented+evidence+Wolverines+Great+Bear/9381575/story.html
First documented evidence of
wolverines in The Great Bear
Rainforest published
BY STEVEN CHUA, THE CANADIAN PRESS JANUARY 13, 2014
This undated file image provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows a wolverine. Evidence shows the often-reclusive wolverine has taken up residence for the first time on an island off British Columbia's Central Coast and the animal's eating habits have changed along with its relocation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
VANCOUVER - Evidence shows the
often-reclusive wolverine has
taken up residence for the first
time on an island off British
Columbia's Central Coast
and the animal's eating habits
have changed along with its
relocation.
often-reclusive wolverine has
taken up residence for the first
time on an island off British
Columbia's Central Coast
and the animal's eating habits
have changed along with its
relocation.
The study, published Monday
in The Canadian Field-Naturalist,
shows that at least two wolverines
inhabit Princess Royal Island, part
of B.C.'s Great Bear Rainforest.
in The Canadian Field-Naturalist,
shows that at least two wolverines
inhabit Princess Royal Island, part
of B.C.'s Great Bear Rainforest.
There are about 3,000 to 4,000
wolverines in B.C., but most of
them are in the Interior, in snowy
habitats and higher elevations,
the study said.
wolverines in B.C., but most of
them are in the Interior, in snowy
habitats and higher elevations,
the study said.
Department of Fisheries and
Oceans biologist Tom Shardlow,
who authored the report, said it
was the first proven sighting of
a wolverine in the area."The
main thing is it's an oddity," said Shardlow. "It's the first time
anything has been published that indicates wolverines occupy these islands."
Oceans biologist Tom Shardlow,
who authored the report, said it
was the first proven sighting of
a wolverine in the area."The
main thing is it's an oddity," said Shardlow. "It's the first time
anything has been published that indicates wolverines occupy these islands."
Wolverines are typically the same
weight as a mid-sized dog and
live mostly by scavenging from
dead animals.
weight as a mid-sized dog and
live mostly by scavenging from
dead animals.
The largest land-inhabiting member
of the weasel family, the wolverine
also has a reputation for fierceness.
There have been reports of
wolverines killing caribou up to
10 times its size, according to the Columbia Mountains Institute of
Applied Ecology.
of the weasel family, the wolverine
also has a reputation for fierceness.
There have been reports of
wolverines killing caribou up to
10 times its size, according to the Columbia Mountains Institute of
Applied Ecology.
The animal is rarely sighted on
the coast, and while there have
been occasional stories of the
animal being spotted on the
islands of The Great Bear
Rainforest, none have been
verified and published until
now, he said.
the coast, and while there have
been occasional stories of the
animal being spotted on the
islands of The Great Bear
Rainforest, none have been
verified and published until
now, he said.
The study also marks the first
time the animal has been
documented eating salmon.
"Wolverines found in coastal
watersheds of British Columbia
would be expected to encounter
moribund salmon ... from
spawning runs in many of the
streams. However, there are no
records of salmon consumption
by this scavenger," the study said.
time the animal has been
documented eating salmon.
"Wolverines found in coastal
watersheds of British Columbia
would be expected to encounter
moribund salmon ... from
spawning runs in many of the
streams. However, there are no
records of salmon consumption
by this scavenger," the study said.
Shardlow said many other animals
eat fish on the island, but he
didn't expect wolverines to do so.
"Those kind of species that we
expect to see using salmon were
all there," said Shardlow. "But
there was one nobody would
ever expect to see — and that's a wolverine."
eat fish on the island, but he
didn't expect wolverines to do so.
"Those kind of species that we
expect to see using salmon were
all there," said Shardlow. "But
there was one nobody would
ever expect to see — and that's a wolverine."
Wolverines typically live off the
carcasses of wild game such as
deer, but hair samples indicated
that one of the wolverines
documented in the study had
marine protein in its diet.
carcasses of wild game such as
deer, but hair samples indicated
that one of the wolverines
documented in the study had
marine protein in its diet.
To make this discovery,
Shardlow created cage-like
structures with bait inside.
When the wolverines took
the bait, their fur was
snagged on the barbs of the
structure.
Shardlow created cage-like
structures with bait inside.
When the wolverines took
the bait, their fur was
snagged on the barbs of the
structure.
Shardlow removed the hair,
tested the samples in a lab
and found carbon-13 and
nitrogen-15 isotopes, which
are associated with marine
protein.
tested the samples in a lab
and found carbon-13 and
nitrogen-15 isotopes, which
are associated with marine
protein.
The wolverine inhabits an
area close to a watershed
filled with salmon, so that's
probably the source of its
marine protein, he said.
area close to a watershed
filled with salmon, so that's
probably the source of its
marine protein, he said.
Cameras were also set up
at each of the stations so
the animals could be identified.
at each of the stations so
the animals could be identified.
Shardlow said his discovery
adds yet another animal to
the long list of those that
depend on the province's
salmon for survival, placing
even more importance on
the need to preserve the
fish stock.
adds yet another animal to
the long list of those that
depend on the province's
salmon for survival, placing
even more importance on
the need to preserve the
fish stock.
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