Threatened Species Wolverine Spotted Outside Oregon Mountains

A wolverine, a threatened species, has been spotted by trekkers outside the mountains of Oregon. In Portland, the exceptionally rare wolverine sighting was documented on camera.

Two anglers saw the elusive animal on the banks of the Columbia River close to Portland on March 20, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In more than three decades, a wolverine has not been seen outside of the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon.

Threatened Species, Wolverine

Wolverines are incredibly uncommon. There were thought to be only 300 in the US as of 2016. Although it was commonly thought that they had disappeared from Oregon by 1936, several sightings throughout the 1960s to 1990s were reported. Three wolverines were discovered during a monitoring project from 2010 to 2012 in the northeastern region of the state.

In Oregon, wolverines are classified as a threatened species. The largest member of the weasel family, they are occasionally mistaken for small bears.

The animals are most frequently spotted in mountainous regions and at high altitudes.

This recently spotted wolverine was probably leaving the state because the area around it is not where it prefers to live.

Since the species can travel more than 30 miles per day, biologists do not anticipate seeing the animal again. This means that by this point, it will have long since gone.

Rare Sightings

A wolverine was last seen in Oregon in 2022 in Wallowa County, before this most recent sighting.

Scientists from Oregon Fish and Wildlife teamed up with the nonprofit Cascadia Wild to set up two monitoring stations close to the wolverine upon reports of its most recent sighting.

In the unlikely event that the wolverine is still in the area, they will be able to detect any tracks it may have left behind.

If they are successful in obtaining the animal's DNA, it might be possible to identify the individual and track the animal in the future.

The proximity of the area to Portland, according to biologist Dave Keiter of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, made this sighting unexpected.

When they were able to confirm the sighting, he said, biologists were "elated."

Wolverine Tracking Projects

Keiter expressed their gratitude to those who alerted them to this unusual occurrence and to Cascadia Wild, which assisted them in validating the report and starting their monitoring efforts.

Due to their rarity, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife together with Cascadia Wild is encouraging people to send in any photos they may have of wolverines.

One of the best sources of information on wildlife, according to Teri Lysak, a coordinator for Cascadia Wild's wolverine tracking program, is from everyday individuals who pay attention to what they observe. Lysak also expressed her gratitude to the couple for taking the time to inform their team that they had seen this animal, Newsweek reports.

The Cascadia Wild Wolverine Tracking Project states that its objectives are to conduct wildlife surveys that broaden the body of knowledge used to make decisions about wildlife management, promote public involvement with local national forests, and educate participants about the natural world.