Wolverine, << `wul` vuh REEN, >> is a fur-bearing animal that lives in Europe, Asia, and North America. It inhabits northern woods and tundras (cold, treeless plains). It is sometimes called the glutton. Adult wolverines measure about 31/2 feet (110 centimeters) long. They weigh up to 55 pounds (25 kilograms). They are somewhat bearlike in appearance. The wolverine has a heavy body and short legs. The wolverine’s long coat ranges from dark-brown to black. The animal has a band of lighter-colored fur along its sides to the top of a bushy tail. The wolverine is powerful for its size.
During the summer, wolverines feed chiefly on small and medium-sized mammals, birds, and plants. During the winter, they hunt reindeer and caribou. A wolverine kills large prey by jumping on the animal’s back and holding on until the animal falls. The wolverine will tear apart the body and hide the pieces until it can return to eat them. Wolverines also feed on the remains of reindeer and caribou that have been killed by wolves, bears, or other animals.
The wolverine is rare today. In the past, it was hunted for its fur. People also hunted it because it kills game animals and livestock.
