CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO WATCH TWO VIDEOS OF MOTHER WOLVERINE
MOVING HER KITS FROM A MELTING DEN TO A DRYER DEN
https://www.earthtouchnews.com/in-the-field/film-and-photo/wolverine-babies-filmed-in-the-wild-for-the-first-time
Wolverine babies filmed in the wild for the first time
Wolverine babies filmed in the wild for the first time
BY earth touch news; FEBRUARY 29 2016
Wildlife filmmaker Andrew Manske’s five-year mission to track down one of the world's most elusive carnivores hit a high note with a decidedly unintimidating sound: the soft cries of a baby. A baby wolverine, that is.
“It was like Christmas morning,” Manske
tells the Edmonton Journal of the excitement of capturing
his very first footage.
Come breeding season, females excavate dens in the
snow, and each litter is typically made up of two to three
white-furred kits, which are born blind and will stay with
the mother for some time. Wolverine family dynamics is
an area that Manske's film project helped shed new light
on.
Wildlife filmmaker Andrew Manske’s five-year mission to track down one of the world's most elusive carnivores hit a high note with a decidedly unintimidating sound: the soft cries of a baby. A baby wolverine, that is.
The squeaks emanating from a den hidden beneath deep snow were the precursor to one seriously adorable wolverine relocation. Manske believes the amazing footage, captured as part of his new documentary Wolverine: Ghost of the Northern Forest, is the first to show a wild wolverine with her kits.
The Canadian cinematographer set his sights on filming the mysterious animals after coming across camera trap footage of them lumbering through the forests of Alberta. What followed was a challenging quest to track down wolverines in their rugged and remote stomping ground – and a series of long and chilly (and often fruitless) stakeouts in wildlife hides.
The Canadian cinematographer set his sights on filming the mysterious animals after coming across camera trap footage of them lumbering through the forests of Alberta. What followed was a challenging quest to track down wolverines in their rugged and remote stomping ground – and a series of long and chilly (and often fruitless) stakeouts in wildlife hides.
Although they're widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, wolverines (Gluo gulo) are among its least studied carnivores – and their mostly nocturnal habits and often inaccessible territories make them difficult for both scientists and filmmakers to find.
To help him with his tracking task, Manske reached
out to experts from the The Wolverine Project – the
most wide-ranging study of the animals ever carried
out in North America.
out to experts from the The Wolverine Project – the
most wide-ranging study of the animals ever carried
out in North America.
“It was like Christmas morning,” Manske
tells the Edmonton Journal of the excitement of capturing
his very first footage.
Much like Africa's honey badgers, wolverines are fearsome
creatures that punch above their weight. They might
look like small bears with bushy tails, but they're
actually the largest members of the weasel family –
and they come armed with powerful jaws and large
teeth. Although they often scavenge (rumours abound
of clashes with wolves and grizzlies over carcasses),
wolverines are also skilled hunters capable of taking
down surprisingly large prey.
creatures that punch above their weight. They might
look like small bears with bushy tails, but they're
actually the largest members of the weasel family –
and they come armed with powerful jaws and large
teeth. Although they often scavenge (rumours abound
of clashes with wolves and grizzlies over carcasses),
wolverines are also skilled hunters capable of taking
down surprisingly large prey.
Come breeding season, females excavate dens in the
snow, and each litter is typically made up of two to three
white-furred kits, which are born blind and will stay with
the mother for some time. Wolverine family dynamics is
an area that Manske's film project helped shed new light
on.
"We started learning that male wolverines might play a
bigger role in raising their young," Manske
tells CBC News. The "fatherly" duties caught on camera
included regular visits to the den, as well as some
scent-marking action at the dens to ward off other
wolverines.
bigger role in raising their young," Manske
tells CBC News. The "fatherly" duties caught on camera
included regular visits to the den, as well as some
scent-marking action at the dens to ward off other
wolverines.
You can watch the trailer for Manske's documentary
below (or visit his website for more about his
wolverine-tracking crusade).
below (or visit his website for more about his
wolverine-tracking crusade).
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