Wolverines aren’t as
choosy about what
they eat as they are
about where they
live. Rodents, birds,
and larger mammals
are favorite prey, but
in winter they rely on
carrion, such as this
deer leg (top). In theirrelentless hunt for food,
wolverines routinely
range over hundreds
of square miles of rug-
ged terrain. Large paws
with sharp, curved
claws (above) enable
these dauntless explor-
ers to scale sheer ice
faces in minutes (right).Around late February,
females burrow deep
into snowpacks to
create dens, where
they give birth to
one to three kits. Ris-
ing temperatures and
reduced spring snow
cover could further
shrink their habitat.118 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WITH ASSISTANCE FROM SWAN VALLEY CONNECTIONS (TOP)