Confirmation of Multiple Rare Wolverine Sightings in California

A rare sighting of a wolverine in California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains has been reported by the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. The wolverine was spotted three times in May, with three different individuals witnessing it in the Inyo National Forest and Yosemite National Park. After careful analysis of photographs and videos, experts from the U.S. Forest Service confirmed the animal to be a wolverine based on its size, body proportion, coloration, and movement patterns.

“Wolverines are known to travel long distances, so it is likely that all the recent sightings are of the same individual,” stated Daniel Gammons, a senior environmental scientist at the CDFW. “Considering that there have only been two confirmed wolverine sightings in California over the past century, these latest observations are highly exciting.”

In the 1920s, one wolverine was spotted in California, and another was documented from 2008 to 2018. Based on the average lifespan of wolverines, it is unlikely that the animal observed in May is the same one as the previous documentation.

The CDFW, in partnership with the U.S. Forest and National Park Service, aims to collect DNA samples of the wolverine. These samples can be obtained from hair, scat, or saliva found at the wolverine’s feeding sites. Wolverine populations are typically found in Canada and Alaska, with a small population residing in the Rocky and Cascade mountains.

The wolverine is considered a protected species in California and is listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently evaluating the possibility of adding the North American wolverine to its threatened species list.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, there are approximately 300 wolverines currently in the United States.

The CDFW is encouraging the public to report any sightings of wolverines on their website.