GREETINGS,
Project Update: 16 August 2010
We continue to collect high quality satellite locations on 2 wolverines (1 male and 1 female) that were livecaptured and fitted with satellite collars this past winter. Rocky is an adult male that we initially captured
in 2006 and then again in 2008 (making Rocky at least 5 years old). We've tentatively identified the
female as "Melanie", the female we initially captured in 2006 and again in 2007 (we are awaiting results
from genetic analyses to confirm her identity). Melanie would also be at least 5 years old. The activity
areas of Rocky and Melanie overlap, and they use areas in both Washington and British Columbia. Thus
far, Rocky's activity area is about 2,773 square km (1,071 square miles) and "Melanie's" is about 1,249
square km (482 square miles; see attached file with a map of their activity areas).
The third wolverine that was live-captured this past winter was a young non-reproductive female - Eowyn.
In March, after making a long distance trek of several hundred miles from the Twisp River drainage in the
North Cascades of Washington north to the Kamloops area in British Columbia, Eowyn appeared to be
settling in the Lillooet Range just west of the Fraser River. Then the activity sensor in her satellite collar
indicated that the collar was no longer moving. In May, Eric Lofroth and colleagues (Cliff Nietvelt and
Brent Gurd) hiked into the area where Eowyn's satellite collar was located and found Eowyn's carcass.
Based on the damage to her skull and other evidence Eric found at the site (including cougar scat), it
appears that Eowyn was killed by a cougar. This is the first known mortality of one of our study animals
since the beginning of our study during the winter of 2005/2006.
MONITORING USING REMOTE CAMERA STATIONS:
Eric Lofroth and his crew pulled the camera stations in British Columbia in early May, however, both
Rocky and "Melanie" were detected at 2 camera stations before the stations were closed. John Rohrer
(in Washington) is continuing to operate most of the remote camera stations that were deployed this past
winter; although, no additional wolverines have been detected since April. Other carnivore species
detected at camera stations this year in British Columbia and Washington included lynx (Washington),
grizzly bear (British Columbia), black bear, bobcat, cougar, and American marten.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Keith Aubry if you would like to learn more about our study
(kaubry@fs.fed.us; 360-753-7586).
We thank everyone for their interest in this research study.
Cathy Raley
Wildlife Biologist
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Northwest Research Station
3625 93rd Ave. SW
Olympia, WA 98512
LEAD PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:
Keith Aubry (Pacific Northwest Research Station).
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:
John Rohrer (Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest)
Cathy Raley (Pacific Northwest Research Station)
Eric Lofroth (British Columbia Ministry of Environment)
Scott Fitkin (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
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North Cascades Wolverine Study Update: 16 August 2010
"Melanie's" Activity Area (n = 136; 7 Mar - 16 Aug)
Rocky's Activity Area (n = 168; 26 Feb - 16 Aug)
Only accuracy classes 3 (<250 m), 2 (250 to <500 m), and 1 (500 to <1,500 m) for satellite location data were used. Data are preliminary.
USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station Olympia, WA 98512; August 16, 2010.
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