The content of the article
There are many legends about wolverines invented by people over many centuries. Often this animal was endowed with various supernatural properties. The Indians living in North America, as well as the inhabitants of the taiga, treat Wolverine with great respect, as they consider it a sacred animal. They have not decided to hunt him. Residents of the Kola Peninsula attribute demonic properties to this animal, and in Chukotka it is often called Yeti.
Features
In appearance, the wolverine has the features of a sable and a small bear. Previously, there was an opinion among the population of Scandinavia that Wolverines are not grown bear cubs. They also look a bit like martens or badgers, but it is still a separate species. Males in terms of external characteristics are almost the same as females. The length of the body can reach 1 m. The tail is usually not less than 20 cm. The head is small, the ears are also small rounded, almost hairless. Wolverines have a rather short body. Height - approximately 50 cm.
Representatives of this species have rather long and powerful paws, which is why the body of the animal does not look proportionally. The movements seem clumsy, but in fact the wolverines are very dexterous. They have membranes on their paws, thanks to which the animal can pass through the snow where another forest animal does not pass.
A characteristic feature of wolverines is that each individual has a unique chest structure. On legs there are powerful large claws. With their help, the beast is able to easily climb a tall tree, and also easily get off it. But they rarely do this, being more on the ground. Wolverines are great at swimming.
Among animals with similar characteristics and weight, it is Wolverine that is considered the strongest beast. The weight of representatives of this species is usually about 13 kg. In this case, the bear is able to confront the grizzly and even a whole flock of wolves.
In winter, the animal grows coarse long hair, which perfectly protects it from frost. In summer, his coat is shorter. There are stripes on the sides. They are white or yellowish, and sometimes gray. Wool has such good thermal insulation that even snow does not melt under it.
Habitat
These animals live on the plains, as well as low-mountain taiga. You can meet them in the forest-tundra and forests in Asia. They are also in Europe, as well as North America. Wolverine does not like severe frosts. They usually live in areas where deep snow has been lying for a long time. It is very convenient for them to hunt in such a place, since wolverines, thanks to their webbed feet, do not fail. In some countries, this species is protected.
Lifestyle
Among all predatory animals, this species is the least studied. Wolverines are very secretive. Even seeing and photographing this beast in nature is a difficult task. An animal usually lives alone. Very rarely you can see several representatives of the species on the same territory.
Males occupy a large territory, which for them will be controlled. It can reach several thousand km. The male necessarily marks this area. The animal walks around the territory to find food for itself. Hunting, he gradually goes around this whole territory.Within a few months, the wolverine can move 200-300 km.
Predators usually stop in those places where many artiodactyls live. If the beast cannot find food for a long time in its habitat, it can go quite far from its usual range. Wolverine housing is usually located under the roots of large trees. It can be another cozy place, for example, a gorge of rock. Representatives of this species usually go hunting in the evening.
In the hunt, the wolverine shows great courage and audacity, can enter into confrontation even with a stronger opponent. Sometimes they fight even with bears. They scare away competitors who hunt in their territory, showing teeth and growling loudly. To communicate with each other, representatives of the species make characteristic sounds that are very similar to fox barking. But the voice of Wolverines is much rougher.
In the forest, the beast nevertheless behaves very carefully. Confrontations with strong opponents such as a lynx or a wolf are usually avoided. The same applies to the bear. They only come to grips with such dangerous opponents as a last resort. Wolverines have no other enemies in the forest. Most of all they are threatened by hunger. It is for this reason that many animals die every year.
They are not at all afraid of people, but usually avoid them. If a person begins to develop any activity on the territory of Wolverine, the animal will begin to search for itself another territory. Sometimes there are still cases when a wolverine attacks a person.
Residents of the tundra know that if a person entered the territory of Wolverine, then in no case should you stop. Otherwise, you can simply become a victim of the beast. They warn about this the people who are in these places for the first time, and are not familiar with the rules of being in the tundra.
Wolverine cubs do not show aggression. They are quite simple to tame, after which they become tame animals. But in circuses and zoos, Wolverines are practically not kept. This is due to the fact that it is very difficult for representatives of this species to be where there are crowds.
Nutrition
These animals are predators. In search of food, they usually travel long distances. But in the summer, their food can become plants, various berries and roots. Sometimes they even eat snakes and eggs from bird nests.
Wolverine is very fond of eating honey, sometimes fishing in ponds. Small animals become their food. These are usually foxes, hedgehogs, or squirrels. But the wolverine's favorite treat is ungulates. They can even defeat an elk or a deer. But often, young individuals or weakened by the disease become victims of Wolverine.
The predator waits for the prey in ambush, then suddenly attacks, quickly tearing it with its teeth and powerful claws. If the animal breaks out, the wolverine continues to haunt him. They are often found close to a herd of ungulates.
If possible, the beast will take prey from the fox or lynx. From a long distance, the wolverine can smell the blood of a wounded beast or dig up fish from under the snow. Wolverine is a real forest nurse, since it eats a very large number of carrion. Remains of food of other animals or animals caught in a trap often become their food. Wolverine can eat a lot at a time. If something remains, they stock up.
Breeding
Usually these animals do not very strictly define the boundaries of their territory, but in the mating season everything is different. At this time, they share their territory only with females. This period usually lasts in the second half of spring. In males, it occurs annually, in females - 2 times less often. Babies are born at the very end of winter or in the first month of spring. At the same time, intrauterine development itself lasts a little more than a month. This is due to the fact that the egg begins to develop only when favorable conditions for this occur.
The young appear blind, at first they are completely helpless, their coat is very short, gray. They are born either in the den or in the tunnel, which the female digs specially. Usually 3-4 cubs are born, whose weight is about 100 g. Vision appears in them after a month.
For several months they eat milk, then half-digested meat. At the age of six months they study hunting. All next winter, the mother takes care of them, teaching the hunt. Males do not participate in this process, they are nearby only during fertilization. But sometimes he brings cubs food. One male may have more than one family, helping them from time to time. In the spring, babies begin to live independently.
In nature, representatives of the species live for about 10 years, in captivity - about 16.
Video: Wolverine Bear (Gulo gulo)
Submit