Wolverines are the largest land-dwelling mustelids and face threats from trapping, climate change and road mortality - understanding their ecology is essential for effective welfare-focused conservation.
Wolverine welfare is threatened by multiple compounding factors. Climate change reducing denning snowpack forces females to give birth in suboptimal conditions, reducing kit survival. Trapping causes acute welfare harm and removes individuals from small populations. Road mortality is particularly damaging for a species with such large home range requirements. Wildlife crossings and road underpasses have been shown to reduce wolverine road mortality effectively. The welfare case for ending wolverine trapping is strong given population vulnerability and the availability of synthetic fur alternatives.