GREETINGS,
Project Update: 05 May 2010
Attached is a map with updated information on the movements of 3 wolverines we live-captured and
radio-collared this past winter: an adult female that we believe is "Melanie" (a female we initially captured
in 2006 and again in 2007), Rocky (an adult male that we captured in 2006 and 2008), and Eowyn (a new
young female).
We continue to collect high quality satellite locations on "Melanie" and Rocky, both of which use areas in
Washington and British Columbia.
At the end of March, Eowyn's transmitter stopped moving (activity sensor count on her satellite collar
decreased to zero) indicating that she either slipped her collar or died. Her stationary collar is located in a
very rugged area of the Lillooet Range in British Columbia, but once the snow melts we should be able to
access the area and retrieve the collar. It is not uncommon for wolverines to eventually slip their collars,
and we will be able to determine if that is the case with Eowyn once we recover her collar. Before
Eowyn's collar quit moving, she travelled more than 287 km (about 178 miles) north from her original
capture location in Washington into British Columbia; she then crossed the Fraser River and moved into
the Lillooet Range.
CONTINUED SUCCESS AT REMOTE CAMERA STATIONS:
John Rohrer (in Washington) and Eric Lofroth (in British Columbia) are continuing to operate most of the
remote camera stations that were deployed this past winter. Rocky, "Melanie", and Xena (an adult female
we initially captured in 2007) have been detected on multiple occasions at our remote camera stations. In
April, we detected a new wolverine at a remote camera station in Washington (see attached file). Both
the new wolverine and Xena were detected at the same camera station on 3 different days; on each of
the 3 days, Xena was detected at the camera station 30 minutes to about 2 hours after the new
wolverine.
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)
Ashcroft
U
V
1
1-97
5
1
U
V
Kamloops
1
97
U
V
V
U
97C
V
U
5
5A
V
U
Merritt
Location of Eowyn's
Satellite Collar
May 2010
V
U
97C
1
V
U
97
V
U
5A
U
V
River
5
V
U
5
se
r
Princeton
F
ra
3
U
V
3
V
U
1
V
U
1
Chilliwack
3
80
km
±
es
60
ad
ar k
40
sc
lP
20
Ca
a
on
Eowyn's Path
125 locations
2 Feb - 27 Mar
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; May 5, 2010.
10
th
ti
Na
0
Rocky's
Activity Area
65 locations
26 Feb - 3 May
3
U
V
r
No
North Cascades Wolverine Study
Update: 5 May 2010
"Melanie's"
Activity Area
57 locations
7 Mar - 5 May
3
V
U
3
7
V
U
20
Mazama
)
"
(
!
Winthrop
Eowyn's Capture
Location Feb 2010
Rocky has been detected multiple times at remote camera stations in British Columbia and Washington since February 2010.
“Melanie” has been detected multiple times at remote camera stations in British Columbia since February 2010
Xena has been detected multiple times at a remote camera station in Washington since February 2010.
A new wolverine was detected in April 2010 at a remote camera station in Washington.