Dean's World

Wolverines are the largest member of the weasel family (which Michigan State fans will probably find amusing to hear). They're not as well studied as other large predators, partly because they're sort of hard to track down. But researchers at the Bronx Zoo's Wilderness Conservation Society recently collared one who, over the next three weeks, roamed over 550 miles across three Western states.

Quoth Robert Inman, the lead author of the study, "This particular wolverine not only covered some incredibly long distances and rugged terrain, but also a variety of land ownerships including three states, two national parks, four national forests, tribal lands, a U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, and private lands. While these data come from only one individual, they suggest that wolverine populations may function over a huge geographic scale.

Rosemary and I used to keep ferrrets, which are fairly close relatives of wolverines. They're funny, funny little animals, they really are. Fierce predators, fearless fighters, and constantly roaming and getting into things. They never seem to keep set patterns of their peregrinations, but always to just be randomly looking for something to get into. They'll also stop and sleep just about everywhere, rather than seeking a favorite spot. While I suppose the comparison is a little shallow, somehow it makes sense to me that Wolverines are much the same.