California academic experts captured the fearsome wolverine on camera, probably in Alaska, since none has been seen in that state for years. Did Wolverine Spotted in Ubly Area Come Across Ice From Ontario?
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Wildlife experts are trying to determine the origin of the wolverine first spotted by coyote hunters in 2004 near Ubly, but one answer being checked out is across the ice from Ontario.
Officials from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources have been asked by MyBayCity.com to analyze the possibility that the wolverine crossed the ice on one of its wide-ranging hunting missions.
The Ubly Ugly was the first wolverine ever documented in Michigan even though the name has been connectedto the state for 200 years.
General George A. Custer used the appelation in a famous charge during the Civil War. Custer had picked up the nickname first disparaging used by disgruntled Ohioans during the 1803 Toledo "War," a boundary dispute with Michigan. (See MyBayCity.com archives, "Bay Cityans Were In The Saddle As Custer Immortalized Wolverines," Jan. 15, 2005.)
And, of course, the University of Michigan athletic teams have brought the wolverine worldwide fame despite the animal's absence in the "Wolverine State."
Meanwhile, news media and wildlife interests in Michigan are being dazzled by rare footage of the wolverine available on video from Jeffery J. Ford at www.wolverineguy.com. Ford, a school teacher in Deckerville, is selling a 20-minute video entitled "Gulo Madness: Michigan's Thumb Wolverine: A Tooth and Claw Adventure", casts of the animal's footprints and photo prints, each for $10, through the website.
Ford came across wolverine sign Nov. 15, 2004 while coyote hunting and his camera "trap" later caught the animal decimating a deer carcass. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was called in to verify the sighting and wolverine fever was on in Michigan.
An immediate official reaction was an emergency order making hunting wolverine illegal, signed by DNR Director K.L. Cool.
Ford, of Cass City, and buddies Jason Rosser of Sandusky and Steve Noble of Deckerville have been tracking and videotaping the wolverine since the first sighting in November, 2004. Ford and Rosser reported that the wolverine charged them in April, 2005, as they were changingbatteries in their video at a bait site.
Ford got hair samples of the wolverine and the DNR is having the creature's DNA analyzed for gender and home habitat. The analysis will answer the question about whether the wolverine has ranged here from Ontario and whether Ford is right about his guess that it is a male.
Sanilac County dairy farmer Allen D. Peruski toldTom Gilchrist of The Bay City Times he had a wolverine in his muzzle loader sights Dec. 6, 2005, but backed off when he recognized the fearsome beast.
The theory that the Ubly wolverine came over from Ontario may not be all that far-fetched, given the animal's proclivity to range far and wide in search of its favorite meals -- carrion.
The animal can weigh as much as 45 pounds, is well adapted to the cold and is known for strength and hunting skill. It is shy and avoids humans.
Wolverines have a home territory of about 200 square miles. The size of a small dog, the wolverine is a bear-like weasel that eats mainly frozen meat and bone. It's coat is a thick, glossy dark brown and some have a light, silvery facial mask, and its academic designation is "gulo gulo," according to The Wolverine Foundation.
Wolverines are found in the northern tier of the United States from Maine to Washington state and south in mountain ranges into California, Arizona and New Mexico. No wolverines were seen in the upper midwest or the northern plains states east of Montana in the historic period until this sighting of a lone animal in Michigan. Idaho and Montana have reported wolverine populations in recent years.
Wolverines are being studied extensively in Ontario where they range mainly in northwestern Ontario. While the animal is considered endangered, it is still trapped in Canada.
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