Wolverines are among the most elusive and wide-ranging carnivores in the Northern Hemisphere. Climate change is their most significant current threat, shrinking the deep snowpack they require for denning.
Wolverine welfare faces compounding threats from climate change and trapping. Snare and leg-hold traps used in wolverine trapping cause significant pain and distress — animals caught in traps may suffer for hours or days before a trapper checks the line. Regulations on trap check times and trap types vary by jurisdiction. Climate change is reducing the deep spring snow wolverine females require to excavate maternity dens, directly threatening reproductive success and population viability. In areas where wolverines come into conflict with livestock operations, persecution through poisoning and shooting occurs. The low reproductive rate — females typically raise only 2-3 kits per year — means populations recover slowly from any additional mortality source.