Wolverines, which are not wolves (you probably know this but lots of folks don’t), are about to get “threatened” species status. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended listing the species as “threatened” under the act Friday. There are still some administrative and legal hurdles before the status is official, but wolverines are definitely endangered, with an estimated population of only 250 to 300 in the Lower 48. Where they live is still guesswork, since the 17- to 40-pound mustelids are both elusive and have an exceedingly large range. Friday’s proposal also allows Colorado’s wildlife agency to reintroduce up to 100 of the animals. A “threatened” status would shut down wolverine trapping in Montana, the only state where the practice is still allowed. Via Jackson Hole News and Guide.

Read more stories like this at Adventure Journal.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 4th, 2013 at 1:00 pm and is filed under Environment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.