STUDY
AP
May 07, 2016 at 6:52 pm | The Associated Press
Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington state are working
together because there are so few wolverines and they are
spread across a wide area, a researcher with Montana's
wildlife agency said.GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) —
Researchers are working on a plan to study wolverines in
four Rocky Mountain states to see if the animals that look
like small bears with big claws can be reintroduced to
some regions to boost their numbers and see how they
might travel between mountain ranges.
"It doesn't occur that often that four states start to think
about managing a species together," said Bob Inman,
carnivore and fur bearer coordinator for Montana Fish,
Wildlife and Parks.
The study is expected to begin next winter, using trail
cameras to capture images and copper brushes to
collect DNA when the animals pass by.
cameras to capture images and copper brushes to
collect DNA when the animals pass by.
Wolverines are rarely seen by humans and roam in
deep snow and steep terrain. There are now up to
300 in the four states.
deep snow and steep terrain. There are now up to
300 in the four states.
The work will be done in the winter when bears are
hibernating so researchers can focus on the wolverines.
hibernating so researchers can focus on the wolverines.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation are helping pay for the study.
and Wildlife Foundation are helping pay for the study.
Representatives from the states began discussing
what could be done for wolverines and came up with
a study proposal about a year ago, the Great Falls
Tribune reported (http://tinyurl.com/zmc3dvq ).
what could be done for wolverines and came up with
a study proposal about a year ago, the Great Falls
Tribune reported (http://tinyurl.com/zmc3dvq ).
"We're identifying places that are good habitat that
don't have wolverines so we might be able to put
them there to increase population size," Inman said.
don't have wolverines so we might be able to put
them there to increase population size," Inman said.
Under the plan, the states will come up with a map
of wolverine habitat that will be useful for land trust
organizations working with private landowners on
conservation easements to prevent development.
of wolverine habitat that will be useful for land trust
organizations working with private landowners on
conservation easements to prevent development.
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