Wolverines are among the most cold-adapted carnivores, but climate change is reducing the deep snowpack they depend on for denning and food caching, threatening their welfare and survival.
Wolverines face compounding welfare threats from climate change and habitat fragmentation. As deep snowpack shrinks, denning females lose the insulation and concealment their kits require for survival. Food cached in shallow snow may spoil or be inaccessible, increasing starvation risk in late winter. Road networks fragment wolverine territories, increasing mortality from vehicle strikes and trapping. Wolverines caught in leg-hold traps may endure prolonged suffering before being checked. Protecting wolverine welfare means preserving large roadless areas, reducing trapping, and addressing the root cause of snowpack loss through climate policy.