Wolverine Spotted in California for the Second Time in 100 Years
Last week, we told you about all the new wildlife seen in the Golden State — in particular, a new group of wolves discovered in Northern California and a new litter of mountain lion cubs confirmed in the Simi Hills.
“A wolverine has been spotted in California for only the second confirmed time in nearly 100 years,” KRON4 reports.
“In May, the lone wolverine was spotted on cameras on two separate occasions in the Inyo National Forest in both Inyo and Mono counties, as well as a third sighting in Yosemite National Park in Tuolumne County.”
This sighting is the rarest of the rare. Wolverines are typically found in Canada and Alaska. There have also been occasional sightings in the Rocky and Cascade mountain regions.
The last sighting of a wolverine in California was near Truckee in 2008. Experts say that was almost certainly not the same animal seen in May. Before the 2008 citing, a wolverine hadn't been reported in the Golden State since the 1920s.
Fish and Wildlife officials hope to collect genetic samples from the animal, which is classified as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act.
If a person happens to see one of these animals, they should report it through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Incident Reporting System.
