Last Updated on September 14, 2023 by Amin Tawar
Are There Wolverine In Utah?
Utah is recorded as a region of the North American wolverine’s historical habitat however, it is not a part of their current home range. The nearest Wolverine population to the state stops at the Wyoming and Idaho borders. This was stated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who did the recent Wolverine population mapping.
Wolverines are mostly found in remote regions of the northern USA and Utah is situated at the very southern tip of the Wolverine’s present habitat range in the U.S. However, their historical range was once extended across northern parts of the country. Their numbers have declined since the 1900s due to trappers and predator control measures, per the National Park Service.
Are Wolverines Native To Utah?
Wolverines are mostly found only in the remote region of North America. Their historical home range was once scattered across northern parts of the U.S., however, Utah is situated at the very southern rim of the Wolverine’s historical home range in the country.
Wolverine Population In Utah?
There have been only eight confirmed wolverine sightings in Utah ever since 1979, with four of those confirmed wolverine sightings happening in the year 2021.
The state has confirmed its eight wolverine sightings in 40 years. However, the exact number of wolverine populations in the state is hard to determine as wolverines move extensively looking for food. Also, they have larger home ranges, and their home size shifts with the seasons and can travel close to 15 miles in a day looking for food.
Wolverine Sighting In Utah?
The Division of Wildlife Resources of Utah has stated that there have been only a total of 8 confirmed Wolverine sightings in Utah. Of which 4 were confirmed in 2021, that includes a video of the animal roaming near the Great Salt Lake around Antelope Island. A month after, doorbell cameras in Layton caught another one running in the suburban neighborhood. From 1979 to 2016, four confirmed sightings were recorded.
- March 1979 – one was shot illegally in the northeast region of Vernal near the Utah-Colorado boundary.
- February 2014 – one was captured on camera in the Uinta Mountains at a bait station.
- December 2014 – wolverine tracks were seen in the eastern region of Daggett County.
- June 2016 – a dead wolverine was found near Bear Lake after it was killed by a car.
The recent wolverine sighting was made on March 11, 2022, when DWR biologists tracked the movements of the young male wolverine. Everything began when the USDA-Wildlife Services were working on the livestock protection assignment.
The crew noticed a creature foraging on a dead sheep and moved in for a tighter look and verified the sighting. It was decided that the wolverine had killed about 18 sheep in the region that morning. The wolverine captures was a male that weighed 28 pounds, was between 3-4 years old, and was 41 inches in length.
Also Check Our Guide On Wolverine In US
Are Wolverines Endangered In Utah?
Wolverines are extremely rare to be spotted in the state as they are greatly nocturnal, and they move quickly, generally not dwelling in a single area long enough to be seen. However, these species are not deemed endangered even protected species in the state.
The Division of Wildlife, says if they were announced as an endangered species then things would change a little on how Utah controls wolverines. These days, loss of habitat has become a significant danger to their existence.
Which Us State Has The Most Wolverines?
There are only around 300 wolverines in the country and these species are scattered throughout the remote regions of Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, and Washington. They are very rare, but Wolverine sightings have also been registered in California, Oregon, and Colorado.
Among these states, Alaska is known to have the highest population of Wolverine living in the Kobuk Valley National Park, Turnagain Arm and the Kenai Mountains, and Selawik National Wildlife Refuge. Researchers have stated that the population of Wolverine has been on a decline.
Also Check Our Guide On Wolverine In Michigan
Conclusion
And that was everything you need to know about the Wolverine in Utah. I hope this article answered all your queries.
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