The wolverine, Gulo gulo, also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. There are two distinct subspecies of the wolverine: the American and the Eurasian. Despite their geographical differences, both subspecies are similar in appearance and behavior. Wolverines are ferocious predators that prey mostly on mammals such as rabbits and rodents. They are also scavengers, eating the carrion (carcasses) of large animals such as caribou, deer, and elk to help them through the winter when other food is scarce. Wolverines have the characteristics of a dog a bear and, a skunk. They have long snouts, short legs, and long hair. Though the legs of these animals are short, their large, five-toed paws with crampon-like claws and plantigrade posture enable them to climb up and over steep cliffs, trees, and snow-covered peaks with relative ease. Wolverines have thick, dark, oily, highly hydrophobic fur, making it resistant to frost. A light-silvery facial mask is distinct in some individuals, and a pale buff stripe runs laterally from the shoulders along the side and crosses the rump just above a 25-35 cm (10-14 in) bushy tail. Some individuals display prominent white hair patches on their throats or chests. Wolverines, like other mustelids, possess a special upper molar in the back of the mouth that is rotated 90 degrees, towards the inside of the mouth. This special characteristic allows wolverines to tear off meat from prey or carrion that has been frozen solid.

Scientific name: Gulo gulo

Trophic level: Carnivorous

Eats: Arctic fox

Gestation period: 30 – 50 days

Mass: 20 – 55 lbs (Adult)

Length: 2.1 – 3.5 ft. (Adult)

Size of territory: 50 – 100 mi² (Female, Adult)