Accidentially Trapped Wolverine To Help IDFG Learn More

ARCO-Making lemonade out of lemons is one way that you could describe how quick thinking and cooperation between IDFG, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and a local veterinarian handled a situation involving a wolverine that was injured when caught in a foot hold trap intended for a bobcat. Not only was the animal nursed back to health, a radio transmitter was also surgically implanted. Tracking of this animal will provide useful information about these secretive residents of Idaho. On February 13, Senior Conservation Officer Cole Wilke of Arco was contacted by a bobcat trapper who had had captured a wolverine in a foot hold trap that was legally set and intended for bobcats. Trappers are very cautious to create trap sets that will minimize the likelihood of the capture of non-target species, but such events can still occur. When it became apparent that the animal had been injured in the trapping process and had caused severe damage to its own front foot, Wilke contacted Lauri Hanauska-Brown, the regional wildlife biologist responsible for non-game species. Because so little is known about wolverine habitat use in the Upper Snake region, Hanauska-Brown saw this as an opportunity to learn something more about this elusive species. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) out of Ennis, Montana willingly donated an abdominal implant radio transmitter so the animal could be monitored after her release. The young female wolverine was transported to the Driggs Veterinary Clinic where Dr. Don Betts donated his time and equipment to fix the foot as best he could and insert the transmitter. Betts was the right man for the job because he had assisted WCS with wolverine captures for numerous years, successfully performing the transmitter implanting procedure a number of times. After the minor foot surgery the animal was given some time to heal, some healthy doses of antibiotics, and some hearty meals before her release. She remained at the vet clinic until she was released back into the wild, northwest of Arco on February 23. Nine days after here release, IDFG was able to receive her radio transmitter emitting a live signal in the general area of release. IDFG will continue to monitor her survival and her movements from ground and aerial telemetry as time and funding allow. No one knows how a wolverine missing a front foot will do in the wild, but it is hoped that she will be able to survive and help biologists to learn something about animal resilience and wolverine movements in the Lemhi Range. The cooperation of the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Driggs Veterinary Clinic was instrumental in helping IDFG to make the best from a potentially bad situation. Progress reports concerning this animal's movements will be made available as significant events occur.