More on human encroachment on Wolverines in Idaho----"There's no question that wolverines are hanging out where people are recreating,". "Now we have to find out if that interaction is harmful"............Wolverines are most vulnerable when they den, Skinner said. They dig up to 15 feet in snow to den for winter, and snowmobiles can easily cross over the den or near it."Whenever you talk about closing off access it gets complicated and heated,"--David Skinner; U.S. Forest Service Biologist

Wolverine Study Moves to Stanley and Fairfield

FAIRFIELD • Right up until 10 years ago, the wolverine had little to fear. Limited technology prevented many people from exploring deep snow areas while out enjoying winter, and the wolverine was left alone to den in peace.

But thanks to advancements in equipment and a passionate pioneering spirit, winter recreationists are not only pushing new limits, but also possibly pushing the limits of sustainable wolverine habitat.
The concern has escalated to a point where researchers are now beginning to map where recreationists travel to compare those routes to where wolverines den. The study began in McCall but scientists are now looking to expand to Stanley and Fairfield.

Knowing the location of both recreationists and wolverines will help determine if the animal suffers from increased human interaction, said David Skinner, wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service.The research results will help Forest Service officials decide whether to close off snowmobile access in areas that contain wolverine dens, he said.

Wolverines are most vulnerable when they den, Skinner said. They dig up to 15 feet in snow to den for winter, and snowmobiles can easily cross over the den or near it."Whenever you talk about closing off access it gets complicated and heated," he said. "We don't know what's going to happen at this point."
The research is led by the Round River Conservation Studies and funded by multiple partners that have a stake in either winter recreation access or species conservation.

If the Stanley and Fairfield areas were to close, it would hamper snowmobile access to some of the best trails in the state, said Sandra Mitchell, public lands director for theIdaho State Snowmobile Association.
A year ago, federal officials announced that the wolverine was a candidate for endangered species protection, but the animal wasn't listed. Species activists have been busy since then studying the effects of human encroachment on wolverine habitat.

For now, project researchers are sticking to putting radio collars on wolverines and asking recreationists to use a GPS armband while out so the scientists can track their activity."In McCall, there's no question that wolverines are hanging out where people are recreating," Skinner said. "Now we have to find out if that interaction is harmful and if the same thing is happening here in Stanley and Fairfield."