Gulo-rious photos in the North Cascades

One wolverine got up close and personal with a camera from our partners at the Cascades Wolverine Project!

By Keiko Betcher, Communications and Outreach Associate

With only an estimated three dozen wolverines (gulo gulo) living in Washington’s Cascades today, getting to see one of these fearless critters up close is a treat—even if this particular individual got a bit too close. Thank you to our longtime colleagues David Moskowitz and Steph Williams from the Cascades Wolverine Project for sharing these awesome photos!

Guessing from the powder on its nose, this wolverine might have just finished rolling around in the snow, or leaving its den tunneled several feet below. This species’ reliance on heavy snowpack makes it vulnerable to climate change, which is why research and strengthened protections for wolverines under the Endangered Species Act are increasingly important.

In addition to fighting for wolverine protection in court, Conservation Northwest is proud to help administer the Cascades Wolverine Project, a grassroots effort to support wolverine research and recovery in Washington’s North Cascades through field science, visual storytelling and backcountry community science. This effort works in coordination with our Citizen Wildlife Monitoring Project. Stay tuned for a season update from the project team later this winter!

You can help the Cascades Wolverine Project by submitting and observation of potential wolverine tracks or live sightings, or making a donation (put Cascades Wolverine Project in the comments) to help them complete their 2020 winter field season so they can continue to collect photos like these!

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT OUR INTENT TO SUE THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO PROTECT WOLVERINES? READ MORE ABOUT OUR WORK FOR THE GULO GULO HERE!