Fun Wolverine Facts For Kids

Wolverines, with the scientific name Gulo gulo, have a large muscular body and they somewhat look like a bear. They belong to the weasel family, despite their looks.

Wolverine animals have a mask of dark and thick fur around their eyes and forehead with a stripe of blond fur that runs down from each shoulder to the base of their tail. They also have short legs.

The size of a wolverine is 25-43 in (65-110 cm) in length and 63 in (160 cm) tall. Most females weigh less than male wolverines.

Wolverines often resort to a vegetarian diet. They eat leaves, plants, and berries but this does not make up to their entire diet as they are also fond of eating meat. They prey upon rabbits, rodents, and caribou. They also dig burrows and eat hibernating animals.

Wolverines are often considered to be dangerous as they are very aggressive in nature. Wolverine claws are very deadly, sharp and capable of killing humans. However, no such attack has yet been documented.

Here on our page, we have lots of interesting facts on wolverines that everyone will enjoy. Let's have a look at these interesting facts and if you do like these, then read our leopard seal and fennec fox facts.

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Wolverine Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a wolverine?

Wolverines (Gulo gulo) are large muscular creatures that look like a bear, but belong to the weasel family.

What class of animal does a wolverine belong to?

The class of animal that a wolverine belongs to is mammals.

How many wolverines are there in the world?

From officially recorded data, there are around 15,000 to 30,000 wolverines all around the world.

Where does a wolverine live?

Wolverines belong to the weasel family and are found living in the northern hemisphere such as Europe, Asia, and North America. Wolverines are mostly spotted in Canada and Alaska with a smaller population of this species also found living in regions of the United States.

What is a wolverines habitat?

Wolverine habitats are considered to be remote boreal forests, taiga, and tundra in the regions of North America.

Who does a wolverine live with?

Wolverines are either seen to be living in their packs or in solitude.

How long does a wolverine live?

The average life span of wolverines is between seven and 12 years.

How do they reproduce?

Females give birth to between two and three baby wolverines (kits) every late winter or early spring. Male wolverines mark their territories, but they do share these territories with the females.

These animals are known to be polygamous in nature, especially when it comes to mating and breeding. One male is said to mate with several females during their lifetime.

Females give birth to between two or three young ones, which are known as kits. Kits are spotted living with their mothers till they become an adult and reach their reproductive age at two years old.

What is their conservation status?

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the conservation status of wolverines is declared a Least Concern.

In 2013, the U.S Fish And Wildlife Service considered giving wolverines protection under the Endangered Species Act due to the habitat loss of these animals. In 2009, reports were given that wolverine researchers, who were tracking these creatures for almost three months, had crossed into Colorado.

The wolverines that were spotted in Colorado were the first ones to be seen since 1919.

Wolverine Fun Facts

What do wolverines look like?

A wolverine (Gulo gulo) has a large muscular frame, and they resemble a bear. These animals actually belong to the weasel family.

They can travel for a long period of time, often covering a distance of up to 15 m (24 km). They do all of this within an impressive 24 hour time frame.

During winter in the snowy areas, they are capable of detecting their prey from 240 in (20 ft) under the snow using their keen sense of smell. They don't mind eating dead animals who had killed by other animals when it comes to keeping their stomachs full.

How cute are they?

Wolverines, like most animals, can be cute when they're young. As they grow up, their charm is lost.

How do they communicate?

Vocalization and scent marking are the ways through which a wolverine communicates.

How big is a wolverine?

A wolverine is 25-42 in (65–110 cm) in length and 63 in (160 cm) tall. They weigh around 24-40 lb (10-18 kg). They are around ten times the size of a common rat.

How fast can a wolverine run?

Wolverines rely on their speed to cover large distances. Wolverines can run at a speed of 30 mph (48 kmph).

How much does a wolverine weigh?

Wolverines weigh around 24-40 lb (10-18 kg). Females tend to weigh less than male wolverines.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no distinct name for the male and female species of the wolverine.

What would you call a baby wolverine?

A baby wolverine is called a kit.

What do they eat?

Wolverines are omnivores in nature. Therefore, their diet consists of both plants and animals. They prey upon smaller mammals such as rabbits, rodents, or caribou. But they would hunt any animal smaller than them if needed. They also don't mind feasting on leaves, berries, and small plants occasionally.

Are they dangerous?

Wolverines are not the most friendly animals especially when they are threatened. Their sharp claws can do some serious damage. So it would be wise to leave them be if you ever come across one in the wild.

Would they make a good pet?

They are not known to be good pets as they require a particular environment to survive. They also prefer to be on the move as they are known to travel, covering large distances in a single day. They may also feel threatened in an environment where there many humans.

Did you know...

Their name suggests that they belong to the dog family, and their appearance makes them seem close to the bear family. But they don't belong to either of those families. In fact, they are the largest of the weasel family.

Their fur is highly water-resistant. They do not move around to hunt their prey. They stay hidden and pounce on their prey.

Why is the wolverine endangered?

Wolverines are not yet endangered and are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

How to draw a wolverine?

Draw two circles which will be used as the frame. While leaving some space for the neck, draw a smaller circle towards the left of the body area to make the head.

Draw the muzzle on the head circle. Draw their ears on the head.

Draw the legs under the frame and add a tail, after which join the frame and the head with some lines. Erase the extra parts of the circle within the figure and proceed to draw some facial features like the eyes, nose and mouth.

Give it some additional features like some whiskers at its mouth and some claws at its feet.

And also add some fur all around its body to make it more realistic. Then color your drawing to make it perfect!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including giant anteater, or plains zebra.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our wolverine coloring pages.

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