Wolves and Wolverines: A Complicated Relationship

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing Doug.

Now I want to find out how a wolverine that is no bigger than a cocker spaniel stalks and kills a caribou.

Cheers.

Doug thanks for sharing. The mustelids / weasels (wolverines, otters, badgers, ferrets, martens and minks) are amazing creatures. Probably the most successful and adaptable hunting mammal family.

I’m doubtful a single wolf took out this wolverine. Wolves’ strength is operating as a team and attacking and distracting a victim from many sides at once. A single wolf would be taking a huge risk taking on a wolverine.

Bruce I would guess that they take them down similar to how they’ve been recorded dispatching polar bears and how their African cousins the honey badgers have taken out massive Cape buffaloes. Wolverines have been recorded suffocating polar bears to death by crushing their throats with their strong jaws and honey badgers have killed male Cape buffaloes by tearing apart their groins causing fatal bleeding.

Perhaps their biggest weakness, outside of sensitivity to habitat destruction from climate change, is overeating. They have been known to gorge themselves to death, including devouring porcupines so quickly they don’t remove the quills, which later kill them.

I wonder why they don’t attack humans. They could easily take one down.

Not an answer, but perhaps insight –

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150421-the-truth-about-wolverines

Thanks. Fascinating animals.