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species observations to supplement the limited wolverine monitoring currently ongoing in the North
Cascades.
Cascades Wolverine Project is a Methow Valley based effort to boost winter wolverine
monitoring in the North Cascades, capture engaging images of this rare mountain carnivore, and
leverage and enhance the skills of winter backcountry recreationists as wildlife observers and stewards
of the alpine. Our team includes photographer and field biologist David Moskowitz, mountain guide and
avalanche forecaster Drew Lovell, and field biologist and mountain guide Steph Williams. We work in
collaboration with Conservation Northwest (CNW), U. S. Forest Service (USFS) Supervisory Wildlife
Biologist John Rohrer, and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) District Wildlife Biologist
Scott Fitkin. Patagonia's Environmental Programs Department, in addition to donations generated by
mountain guides Forest McBrian and Trevor Kostanich, and individual contributions via CNW and
GoFundMe.com provided initial funding.
Methods
Objective 1: Wolverine Monitoring
Monitoring area – Our remote-camera sites were located in the eastern portion of the North Cascade
Range, within the Chelan and Methow watersheds and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. In
collaboration with John Rohrer (USFS), Scott Fitkin (WDFW), and CNW Science Director Dave Werntz,
we chose specific drainages based on findings of the now concluded North Cascades Wolverine Study
(2005-2015), and current efforts by Woodland Park Zoo Senior Conservation Scientist Dr. Robert Long
with North Cascades Wolverine Project (2013-present), targeting areas where wolverine are known to
occur, but currently lack winter monitoring. All sites fell within the bioclimatic envelope as described by
Copeland, et al. (2010), and were accessible within a day by snowmobile and ski from the Methow
Valley, or the village of Holden.
Methods – We installed and maintained seven remote-camera stations baited with Gusto scent lure (a
skunk and beaver castor-based attractant), as well as parts of road-kill deer. Each of five stations
(Washington Pass, Hairpin, Cutthroat, South Creek, Reynolds) included one motion-triggered DSLR
camera with supplemental flash lighting, in addition to one motion-triggered trail camera. We
suspended bait two to three meters above the snow surface by cable strung between trees at
Washington Pass, Hairpin, and Reynolds. Where sites lacked well-positioned trees for suspended cable
