April 26, 2011 | 10:57 AM | By

Wolverines in Oregon? The rumors are true

FILED UNDER: Fish & Wildlife, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wolverines


It’s an exciting time for Oregon’s wolverine trackers.

After countless unconfirmed reports of wolverine sightings and years of setting up cameras in remote, snow-covered forests, wildlife biologists working with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have finally found what they were looking for.

A baited camera offered the first confirmed sighting of a wolverine in Oregon in 19 years on April 2. The photo was downloaded on Friday. A very happy Earth Day for wolverine researchers!

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

A baited camera offered the first confirmed sighting of a wolverine in Oregon in 19 years on April 2. The photo was downloaded on Friday. A very happy Earth Day for wolverine researchers!

Two wolverines were caught on camera this month in Wallowa County. The first discovery came April 17 with a confirmed set of wolverine tracks. Then, just days later, researchers found their camera in Wallowa County had snapped pictures of two wolverines on April 2 and 13.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Wolverine tracks in the snow, April 17. That's a glove on the left for size comparison.

I dug up the 2006 Oregon Field Guide episode above to illustrate just how long the search party has been seeking out this elusive species in Oregon.

Wolverines are listed as a state threatened species, and there have been no confirmed sightings anywhere in the state since 1992.

The species became a candidate for federal Endangered Species Act protections in December of last year, and Meg Kenagy of ODFW told me that the species will be a harbinger of climate change because they den in the snow.

Here’s ODFW’s brief history of wolverines in Oregon:

“The wolverine was listed as threatened by the Oregon Game Commission in 1975, grandfathered as a state threatened species (May 1987) and reaffirmed by rule in 1989. It became a federal candidate species on Dec. 14, 2010.

In 1936, the wolverine was thought to have been extirpated from Oregon. In 1965, a male was killed on Three Fingered Jack in Linn County. In 1973, a wolverine was trapped and released on Steens Mountain, Harney County. In 1986, a wolverine was trapped in Wheeler County. In 1990, a dead wolverine was picked up on I-84 in Hood River County. In 1992, a partial skeleton was recovered in Grant County.”

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

A second wolverine was photographed at a baited camera station on April 13.

  • Rob K

    This is nothing short of awesome. Wolves, wolverines, moose, raptors, (even bison…kinda), Wallowa County’s getting to be a pretty exciting place for Oregon’s wildlife lovers.

  • Rob K

    This is nothing short of awesome. Wolves, wolverines, moose, raptors, (even bison…kinda), Wallowa County’s getting to be a pretty exciting place for Oregon’s wildlife lovers.

  • Constance

    Very Cool! Gotta love those wolverines.

  • Constance

    Very Cool! Gotta love those wolverines.

  • Gbkeller

    About 15 years ago my father and I saw a wolverine on a trail coming down from a peak hike near Olallie Lake, Mt. Hood. Didn’t know what it was at the time, but described it to the ranger station, which pretty much confirmed it from the description. I’m surprised there haven’t been more sightings.

  • Gbkeller

    About 15 years ago my father and I saw a wolverine on a trail coming down from a peak hike near Olallie Lake, Mt. Hood. Didn’t know what it was at the time, but described it to the ranger station, which pretty much confirmed it from the description. I’m surprised there haven’t been more sightings.

  • Afenix

    This is fantastic news! It was also great to see ODFW working hard to protect and survey our public lands. GOOOO Wolverines!!!

  • Afenix

    This is fantastic news! It was also great to see ODFW working hard to protect and survey our public lands. GOOOO Wolverines!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1320010064 An Nur

    we saw a Wolverine in N Klamath County in the early 1990′s….South of La Pine OR…but no one belived us……..but it was and these Pictures coinfirm it…….awsome…..awsome…Oregon is Sacred Country…….

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1320010064 An Nur

    we saw a Wolverine in N Klamath County in the early 1990′s….South of La Pine OR…but no one belived us……..but it was and these Pictures coinfirm it…….awsome…..awsome…Oregon is Sacred Country…….

  • Black-widow

    Fantastic! Way to go ODFW!

  • Black-widow

    Fantastic! Way to go ODFW!

  • Wapitime

    I have seen a wolverine on two different occasions in the Wenaha Unit in Oregon’s Blue Mountains while elk hunting…. One about five years ago, and the first more like 20 years ago. Amazing animal… At first I thought they were bear but pulling up my binoculars confirmed they were wolverines without a doubt.

  • Wapitime

    I have seen a wolverine on two different occasions in the Wenaha Unit in Oregon’s Blue Mountains while elk hunting…. One about five years ago, and the first more like 20 years ago. Amazing animal… At first I thought they were bear but pulling up my binoculars confirmed they were wolverines without a doubt.

  • Fl Smith

    We saw a wolverine on July 24, 2010 crossing a snow field on the northeast side of Broken Top in the Three Sisters Wilderness. My first thought was a pine marten, but viewing through the binoculars revealed it to be much larger, with a bearlike head and short bushy tail. Then on November 14th PBS aired the special on wolverines and it was confirmed, in my head at least, what we saw on that day was indeed a wolverine

    • John C. Ratliff

      I saw a wolverine in the Mt. Jefferson wilderness area in about 1965 during a deer hunting trip with my father and brothers.  I cannot remember exactly where it was, but do remember that we were in the wilderness area.  I was on a ridge, and as I walked uphill on the crest a wolverine ambled by, very close.  It was only about twenty feet from me, and then went under a very large tree.  I could have easily shot it, but I was hunting deer and did not want to kill an animal just because I had seen it.  But it was low to the ground, and quite muscular.  After I got out, I told my dad about it and he said that it was good I had not shot it, as if I had it might not have been killed and wolverines are pretty ferocious.  I enjoyed watching it for a few minutes before continuing on my way.  

  • Fl Smith

    We saw a wolverine on July 24, 2010 crossing a snow field on the northeast side of Broken Top in the Three Sisters Wilderness. My first thought was a pine marten, but viewing through the binoculars revealed it to be much larger, with a bearlike head and short bushy tail. Then on November 14th PBS aired the special on wolverines and it was confirmed, in my head at least, what we saw on that day was indeed a wolverine

    • John C. Ratliff

      I saw a wolverine in the Mt. Jefferson wilderness area in about 1965 during a deer hunting trip with my father and brothers.  I cannot remember exactly where it was, but do remember that we were in the wilderness area.  I was on a ridge, and as I walked uphill on the crest a wolverine ambled by, very close.  It was only about twenty feet from me, and then went under a very large tree.  I could have easily shot it, but I was hunting deer and did not want to kill an animal just because I had seen it.  But it was low to the ground, and quite muscular.  After I got out, I told my dad about it and he said that it was good I had not shot it, as if I had it might not have been killed and wolverines are pretty ferocious.  I enjoyed watching it for a few minutes before continuing on my way.  

  • Jshortgrub

    My grandfather found one years ago He reorted it and was told he was stupid….

  • Jshortgrub

    My grandfather found one years ago He reorted it and was told he was stupid….

  • Timine

    While hunting about 4 years ago with my brother, we saw a wolverine in the Oregon Blues, Wallowa County.  The few people we told wouldn’t believe us, so we kept quiet. I’m glad there is some verification. This is exciting!

  • Timine

    While hunting about 4 years ago with my brother, we saw a wolverine in the Oregon Blues, Wallowa County.  The few people we told wouldn’t believe us, so we kept quiet. I’m glad there is some verification. This is exciting!

  • Bobmaharrey

    I saw a wolverine in Oregon, working in the wilderness on a wildfire. August 2006- Malheur Forest

  • Jolly Rancher

    Oregon’s calves and lambs may be in danger. Shoot the wolverines on sight!