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ROADLESS, HIGH ELEVATION GLACIATED LANDSCAPES- DENNING HABITAT
FOR THE WOLVERINE- Mountain ranges over 6000 feet in Region
One were heavily glaciated during the last ice age. These
glaciated landscapes include such topographic features as
cirque basins, cirque headwalls, avalanche chutes, and rocky,
treeless ridges. During the winter these high elevation areas
appear extremely inhospitable due to high winds, subzero temperatures,
deep snows, and periodic avalanches. Interestingly, female
wolverines select natal dens within these high elevation areas
in which to give birth and rear their young. They occupy these
natal dens in late winter through early spring, a time when
snow depths and temperatures are extreme.
In the past, these high elevation landscapes were totally
avoided by humans during the winter. Recently, however, such
rugged winter landscapes have become the winter playgrounds
of downhill skiers, snowmobile enthusiastics, and backcountry
skiers. Although wolverines are extremely difficult animals
to study, several research studies suggest human disturbance
near wolverine natal dens may result in den failure. The degree
to which wolverine natal den habitat is accessible to human
recreational activity was evaluated across Region One. A high
percentage of wolverine natal den habitat is protected from
wintertime human activity by wilderness legislation and other
protective measures, particularly in western Montana and in
the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park. Within northern
Idaho and portions of eastern Montana, however, there are
wolverine subpopulations that may be at some risk from winter
recreational activities. If you want to read more about wolverines
and the effect of human winter recreation activities, click
on…
  
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