1st Mich. Wolverine Spotted in 200 Years

Associated Press ^ | Wed Feb 25 | DAVID RUNK

[presidio9]

A biologist has confirmed the sighting of a real Michigan wolverine, about 200 years after the species was last seen in the state that uses the small but ferocious animal as its unofficial nickname.

Coyote hunters spotted a wolverine near Ubly, about 90 miles north of Detroit. Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Arnie Karr saw the forest predator Tuesday and snapped pictures of the animal as it ran out of the woods and across a field.

The wolverine, a member of the weasel family that grows to about 25 pounds but is ferocious enough to fight off bears and wolves, once ranged across the northern and western United States. It is now limited mostly to northern Canada, Idaho and Alaska, with sightings in a few other states, but its last confirmed sightings in Michigan were by fur traders in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

The appearance is "up there with having a caribou or a polar bear turn up," Department of Natural Resources spokesman Brad Wurfel said Wednesday. "It's unprecedented."

How the scrappy animal returned and even whether it ever really left are mysteries in the state, where the best-known Wolverines are athletes at the University of Michigan.

Raymond Rustem, supervisor of the natural heritage unit in the department's wildlife division, said the wolverine could have traveled to the state, been released or escaped from captivity.

"What it means, who knows?" Rustem said. "When you take a look at the wolverine, there's always been this debate about whether wolverines ever were a part of Michigan's recent past. Some evidence shows that, some says no."

The wolverine was on Michigan's endangered species list until the late 1990s, when it was removed because it wasn't expected to return, Rustem said. Conservationists asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to put the animal on its endangered list in 2000, but the agency in October declined to study whether the species should be added.

[presidio9]

Arnie Karr, a state Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist said Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004, he was able to photograph a wolverine in Huron County with the help from a group of coyote hunters who originally spotted the animal. The animal, shown running out of the woods and across a field, was photographed on Feb. 24, by Karr. The sighting is the first confirmed find in the wild of a wolverine in the state since reports by fur traders in the late 1700s to early 1800s. (AP Photo/Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Arnie Karr)

[Zack Nguyen]

Steer clear. Wolverines are vicious little fascists.

[presidio9]

Wolverines are vicious little fascists.

Looks like an anteater to me...

[Wolverine]

I didn't see it, but then I'm not in Michigan..LOL

[Constitution Day]

...grows to about 25 pounds but is ferocious enough to fight off bears and wolves

Holeee crap!

[Constitution Day]

FYI!

[New Horizon]

Now University of Michigan can feel better about their team name.

[el_texicano]

Yep!!! They are definitely lean, mean, fighing machines. They are NOT an animal to mess with. I've read they can tear through steel cages or something of that nature.

[rintense]

Cool! Based on the paw prints in the snow behind my house, I either had a small bear, a fisher cat, or a wolverine visit my bird feeder.

[So Cal Rocket]

Was he wearing this??

[mykdsmom]

This is the only Wolverine this ex-Michigander has ever seen. Cool post and picture, I wasn't even aware that they were presumed extinct in MI and I lived there for 28 years.

MKM

[New Horizon]

Heard on the radio this morning that they estimated closer to 50 lbs for this one.

[VadeRetro]

1st Mich. Wolverine Spotted in 200 Years

So who shot it?

[mattdono]

25 lbs? Hmmm.

Maybe it is the evolutionary derivative of these guys...

[SolutionsOnly]

Yes, they are ferocious little beasts but all part of God's plan just the same. Glad to hear that they still exist in Michigan - they're good porcupine control, amongst other rodents large and small.

[Sacajaweau]

One Wolverine = Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Now, 50 environmentalists will be hired to mark out a million acres or so and set up recording equipment. More money down the toilet.

[BlueLancer]

Come on, you Wolverines!

[oldfart]

I once had a run-in with a wolverine in Alaska. You haven't seen "mean" until you've crossed one of them and they don't seem to know when to give up. If you ever get the chance, use the 3-S tactic. Shoot. Shovel. Shut up.

[presidio9]

[Veracious Poet]

They've already marketed him!