The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the North American wolverine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act due to threats from climate change, trapping, and low genetic diversity. Climate change is reducing wolverine habitat and snow cover needed for reproduction. While trapping alone may not threaten wolverines, combined with habitat loss it poses a risk. Low genetic diversity in the US population limits its ability to withstand these threats. The proposal faces opposition from Western states that believe the science is uncertain and wolverines can adapt without federal protection.

1. Kelsey Hansen
E. Law and Policy
Dr. Smith
28 April 2013
Proposed Rule for Threatened Species Known as the Wolverine
Summary
The proposed rule by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has determined
that the North American wolverine should be considered a threatened species and that it needs to
be placed on the endangered species list. The FWS has verified that the distinct population
segment (DPS) of the wolverine is discrete because it satisfies a certain condition, which
concerns the international boundary between the United States and Canada. The regulations
among the two countries differ in regards to their control over the protection and exploitation
status of the wolverine. The significance of placing the wolverine on the list is to continue the
genetic diversity among these animals. In the United States, the population of the wolverine is
estimated to be 250 to 300 individuals. The FWS has found that several factors come into play
with their decision that wolverines are a threatened species (USFWS 2013).
The primary factor affecting wolverines is climate change. The second factor is the taking
of wolverines by humans. The third factor is genetic diversity among wolverines living in the
lower 48 states. These two later factors go in conjunction with the primary factor of climate
change. As the planet warms, the snow that wolverines are absolutely reliant upon for successful
reproduction is steadily diminishing. The second factor comes into play because humans trap
wolverines for their fur. The FWS has concluded that trapping by itself does not put the species
at risk, but when trapping is combined with habitat loss due to climate change, it is a threat. The
last factor is genetic diversity of wolverines within the United States boundary. By itself, lack of

2. genetic diversity is not a threat to the DPS of the wolverine, but this factor does go in
conjunction with habitat loss due to climate change. Due to apparent lack of connectivity
between wolverine populations in the United States and Canada, the genetic diversity of these
animals in the U.S. is unlikely to be bolstered by the immigration of wolverines from Canada
(USFWS 2013).
Significance
Opponents of this proposed rule consist of many of the western states: Wyoming,
Montana, Utah, and Idaho. These states say that the science behind this proposal is faulty,
because it is based primarily on climate change. They feel that one reason not to list this species
under the Endangered Species Act is because the FWS is relying on climate change models.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) wildlife section chief Bill Bates wants to wait and
see what effects climate change will have in the next 20 or 30 years before making a decision to
put the wolverine on the list (Prettyman 2013). Officials from these states also feel that
wolverines do not need federal intervention since wolverines are doing well now. They say that
there is no evidence implying that wolverines will not sufficiently adjust to reduced late spring
snow cover to maintain their viability (Brown 2013). Bill Bates also stated that protection by the
federal government “is not always the best thing that can happen for a species.” State biologists
may be more aware of what the animals in their states need to help them evade declining
populations (Prettyman 2013).
One proponent of the proposed rule asserted that the FWS should regulate greenhouse
gas emissions by using the authority of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The FWS stated that
it will not use the powers of the ESA to directly regulate greenhouse gas emissions, despite the

3. threat of climate change. The FWS suggests, however, that this rule may improve research
programs, boost the progress of mitigation measures that could help decelerate population
declines and habitat loss, and indirectly increase international and national coordination and
cooperation of conservation efforts (Reichert 2013).
Anticipated Impact
The anticipated environmental impact is the effect of climate change on wolverine
habitat. After climate change impacts come into play, it is not possible to verify how much
habitat may be left for the wolverines. One analysis takes into account the effects of changes to
precipitation patterns and temperature changes at a local scale for their habitats. The method for
climate impact evaluation was the prediction of the arrival of spring snowmelt taking place two
weeks earlier than it presently does. Based on these statistics, habitats for the wolverines within
the United States boundary are dwindling, and they are expected to continue diminishing as
climate warming increases. One area likely to sustain wolverine populations in the face of
climate change is the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In some models, but not others,
the Rocky Mountains in Colorado were shown to retain a significant amount of snow in high
elevations. Overall, it is projected that wolverine habitat is anticipated to become more
fragmented as areas with less snow become larger between wolverine habitat islands. This may
cause isolation for some wolverines, thus decreasing the genetic diversity among their population
within the contiguous United States (USFWS 2013).

4. Bibliography
Brown, Matthew. 2013. “Montana, Idaho, Wyoming Oppose Federal Protection of
Wolverines.” Missoulian. Retrieved from http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-
regional/montana-idaho-wyoming-oppose-federal-protection-of-
wolverines/article_46d05ce0-b693-11e2-89fe-001a4bcf887a.html.
Prettyman, Brett. 2013. “Western States Want to Delay Wolverine Listing.” The Salt Lake
Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57164747-78/species-
wildlife-wolverine-wolverines.html.csp.
Reichert, Christina. 2013. “Climate Change and the north American Wolverine.” Penn
Program on Regulation: RegBlog. Retrieved from http://www.regblog.org/2013/02/19-
reichert-wolverine-endangered-rulemaking.html.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2013. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants;
threatened status for the distinct population segment of the North American wolverine
occurring in the contiguous United States. Federal Register. Vol. 78:7864-7890.