How to Find Wolverine Tracks

The wolverine is a fierce fighting member of the weasel family. While the animal is known for taking down animals more than ten times its size, its need to conserve energy for hunting and its awkward body structure make it something of an elusive creature. Follow a few steps to find tracks of Gulo gulo, or the wolverine, in the wild.

Instructions

1. Learn as much as possible about the wolverine. Because the wolverine is both a behaviorally complex and dangerous animal, it is important that you understand the animal's habits and general responses before trying to track it.

2. Find a wolverine in captivity. Seeing a wolverine in an enclosure will allow you to see how its behaviors corresponds to tracks. Take a pair of binoculars and a camera with a high-powered zoom so you can document the animals signs and markings.

3. Travel to wolverine habitats. The wolverine favors cold, northern forest environments. Alaska and the arctic mainland of Canada are good places to find wolverines in their natural habitat. Prepare well for your visit, since the wolverine thrives in harshly cold environments.

4. Look for the wolverine's distinctively large footprints. The wolverine's footprints shows four toe imprints situated around a heavy pad imprint and a hind toe at the lateral edge of the pad print. The animal sprints, rather than saunters or walks, so look for a running pattern when you track the wolverine.

5. Ask locals to assist you. Residents of areas where wolverines live have a good deal of knowledge about the animal and its behavior since it is something of a formidable foe, even for humans. Speak with locals about the animal and its markings to find wolverine tracks.