Wolverines are elusive, solitary carnivores of boreal and arctic landscapes requiring vast territories. They face threats from trapping, habitat fragmentation, and climate change, and their welfare in both wild and captive settings raises distinctive concerns.
Wolverine welfare in the wild is most acutely threatened by trapping. Leghold traps cause injury and prolonged suffering before the trapper returns — intervals of 24–72 hours are common, during which the trapped animal experiences pain, fear, and exhaustion. Body-grip traps designed to kill quickly are more humane than leghold traps but remain imperfect. The welfare cost of trapping wolverines — even as a non-target bycatch of trapping programmes aimed at other furbearers — is significant given the species' rarity. Climate-driven loss of persistent snow threatens wolverine denning success directly: females require deep snow banks to insulate natal dens, and early spring melt exposes pups to cold and predation. In captivity, wolverines' requirement for extensive locomotion means that most zoo enclosures are fundamentally inadequate — pacing is almost universally observed. Conservation focus should prioritise habitat protection and trapping reform alongside climate action.