Earlier in 2013, FWS had proposed the North American wolverine’s listing in the contiguous United States and in 2020, reevaluated the wolverine’s ESA listing status as unwarranted. However, in 2022 a Montana district court judge ordered FWS to vacate that decision and reconsider the North American wolverine’s status.
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SUBLETTE COUNTY – The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced its final rule to list the North American wolverine as a “threatened” species on Nov. 29, under the federal protections of the Endangered Species Act.
In September, the Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) updated its 2018 special status assessment with new information on climate change, habitat connectivity, trapping, snow, population density and impacts on genetic diversity.
FWS describes the North American wolverine as a medium-sized carnivore, the largest terrestrial member of the family Mustelidae, with adult males weighing 26 to 40 pounds and adult females weighing 17 to 26 pounds. It
Few people see these high-elevation, cold-loving, territorial mammals without luck and effort and FWS describes its range as the Northern Rockies – including Wind River, Wyoming and Teton mountain ranges along Wyoming’s west border and surrounding Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.
From there its range extends to Canadian and Alaskan tundras, boreal forests and alpine regions where snow is consistent year-round.
The secretive mammal is compared to a “small bear with a bushy tail,” with a round broad head, short rounded ears and small eyes. It is very territorial and elusive.
Earlier in 2013, FWS had proposed the North American wolverine’s listing in the contiguous United States and in 2020, reevaluated the wolverine’s ESA listing status as unwarranted. However, in 2022 a Montana district court judge ordered FWS to vacate that decision and reconsider the North American wolverine’s status.
“There were six primary differences between to 2018 and 2023 special status assessments,” the FWS says in its FAQ. “These included connectivity with Canada, genetic diversity and adaptive capacity, ecological requirements, dispersal/ human disturbance, winter recreation and trapping in southern Canada.”
The proposed and final rules, how to submit comments and read ones received on the proposed rule are at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2012-0107. The 60-day comment period began Nov. 30 and closes Jan. 29.
