High-elevation mountain ranges serve as climate refugia for wolverines as lowland snow disappears. Protecting these areas now is the most strategic long-term welfare investment for the species.
Wolverine climate refugia protection is among the most forward-looking welfare investments in wildlife conservation. By identifying which mountain areas will retain suitable wolverine habitat under realistic climate scenarios, conservation planners can prioritize land protection and connectivity investments that will pay welfare dividends for decades. The Yellowstone-to-Yukon corridor includes some of the most viable wolverine refugia in North America. Protecting roadless areas within and adjacent to existing wilderness provides immediate connectivity benefits while maintaining the wild character that wolverine welfare requires. The window for strategic investment before climate change eliminates lower-elevation habitat is narrowing, making prioritized action now essential.