The wolverine, ( Gulo gulo ) also known as wolverine, is a carnivorous mammal of the Mustelidae family and is the only species of its genus. This animal looks like a hybrid of skunk, dog and bear, as it stands out for its short legs, dark fur and elongated snout. In addition, she has a kind of dark mask around her eyes and a fringe of blonde hair that reaches from her shoulders to her tail.
Although wolverines are the largest species of the badger or weasel family, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) they are quite small animals. In fact, they are normally between 66 and 86 centimeters (not counting the tail) and weigh around 18 kilograms.
On the other hand, these animals are omnivores, so they eat both plants and meat. They mainly hunt elk, mountain goats or reindeer, although they also eat smaller animals such as squirrels or rodents. To get food they are able to travel more than 15 miles, eating even dead animals that they have not killed.
Additionally, wolverines prefer cold climates as they can use snow to build dens and keep food fresh for long periods of time. For this reason, they tend to live in the Arctic, alpine forests, and boreal forests. It is also possible to find them in the tundra of Europe, Asia and North America.
If you want to discover more fascinating facts about wolverines, don't miss the following gallery.
