According to the agency, there are now fewer than 300 specimens of the North American animal in the United States. In 2018, an attempt was made to add the wolverine to the endangered list, but officials did not see sufficient reason to do so. Scientific intelligence activities on animals and their conservation have now become essential.

Climate change has threatened the winter landscapes of Alaska and Canada for more than a decade, where the wolverine prefers to live as a solitary wanderer in the high mountains around the tree line. And the effects of a warming climate could lead to further degradation and fragmentation of wolverine habitat, officials say.

The wolverine is given protected status, placing the carnivore on the endangered species list. Animal welfare organizations hope to limit long-term effects in this way.

Not exactly sweet

Things had already become difficult for wolverines at the beginning of the last century: their population size was destroyed by large-scale poaching and poisoning by trappers and poachers. This year, a wolverine was spotted in the US state of Utah. This is the eighth time since 1979.

The wolverine (Culo Culo) weighs between 15 and 45 kg and belongs to the Mustelidae family, a group of carnivorous mammals that includes weasels, mink, martens and otters. He cannot be called sweet: Wolverine is considered powerful, aggressive, territorial and determined. There have been scenes of wolverines attacking and killing bears twice their size.

Thanks to its thick coat it can withstand cold temperatures. It moves effortlessly over snowy terrain with long, curved claws on snowshoe-like feet. Strong and sharp teeth help the carnivore to grind even frozen meat.

The wolverine also claims its space: males defend territories of 600 to 1,000 square meters, in which two or three females can hold their territory. Outside of North America, the wolverine is also found in Siberia, northern Russia, and Scandinavia.