Wolverines are threatened by climate change reducing persistent snowpack they require for denning, and by trapping programs that kill animals both intentionally and as bycatch.
Wolverine welfare is threatened by two distinct human-caused pressures. Climate change is eliminating the persistent snowpack that wolverine mothers require for safe birth and early kit rearing — a slow-motion habitat welfare crisis. Trapping imposes acute welfare harms: animals caught in traps experience significant pain and distress before death or release. Bycatch trapping, where wolverines are caught in sets intended for other species, is particularly problematic from a welfare perspective because it is preventable with modified trap designs and placement. Protecting wolverines requires both climate action and trapping reform.