State Officials Oppose Protection for Rare, Carnivorous Wolverines

It turns out that not everyone wants protection for the rare wolverine. State officials in the Northern Rockies opposed a federal proposal to give new protections to the carnivorous mammal as climate change threatens to melt the species' snowy mountain habitat.

The wolverine is a snow-loving carnivore, sometimes called the "mountain devil." It's a powerful animal that resembles a small bear, but is actually the largest member of the weasel family. Even though the largest of the wolverines are only around 40 pounds, they can be aggressive enough to stand up to a grizzly. Usually solitary creatures, they can travel as many as 15 miles a day in search of food. They can usually be found in remote boreal forests, taiga and tundra in the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia and North America.

Currently, the wolverine's habitat is shrinking drastically due to warming temperatures. There are only about 250 to 300 wolverines left in the contiguous U.S., and all of them are clustered into small, isolated groups in the Northern Rockies of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington.

In order to help this species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service created a proposal that would declare the rare animal a threatened species across the Lower 48 states. This particular initiative would end trapping of the ferocious creature and it would pave the way for the reintroduction of wolverines in portions of the southern Rocky Mountains, according to the Great Falls Tribune.

Now, though, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming officials are arguing against the federal protections. They believe that they're not necessary for the remaining 300 wolverines that live across the West.

"There is no evidence suggesting that wolverines will not adapt sufficiently to diminished late spring snow pack (assuming there is any) to maintain viability," wrote Wyoming Governor Matt Mead in a letter to federal officials.

Although state officials are arguing against the proposal, it could certainly be necessary to ensure the survival of the species. Yet even if the species is not listed, Colorado could move forward with its own potential reintroduction program in order to bolster the population.

The government proposal will be voted on early next year.