8
near eradication from the lower 48 states in the 1900s, wolverines have begun to recover in areas such as the
North Cascades, and, since 2005, state researchers have identified a dozen individual wolverines. Much is still
unknown about these rare and elusive species, and CWMP is helping to collect more information.
Though conservation groups have pursued listing the wolverine as endangered under the Endangered Species Act
at both the federal and state levels, in the fall of 2014, the USFWS published their final ruling on the listing status
for wolverine nationwide and determined that the species did not warrant federal protections.
10
In response to
the negative finding from USFWS, conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against the government to continue to
pursue protection
11
. Conservation Northwest and other organizations are pushing decision-makers to create state
and federal safeguards for wolverines as they recover across Washington and other parts of the lower 48 states.
Through CWMP monitoring activities, Conservation Northwest will help shape recovery and critical habitat plans
for wolverines in Washington, inform land management decisions, and build upon ongoing research in the
Cascades. Our goals for wolverine monitoring in 2016 were to 1) document the presence of wolverines in the
southern portion of the North Cascades and the South Cascades, 2) collect definitive evidence of wolverines on
the western side of the North Cascades in the Mount Baker vicinity where anecdotal reports of sightings and
tracks have been made for a number of years, and 3) collect genetic data through hair samples to help identify
individual wolverines at all of our wolverine monitoring locations. In 2016, our wolverine monitoring continued in
the Chiwaukum and Blackjack Mountains and Union Gap survey sites where our remote cameras have
documented at least five individual wolverines to date. We also established locations at Joe and Alaska Lake in
response to potential high reliability sightings. To ensure that our efforts add to existing research, we maintain
sites that lie outside of the current study area established by the North Cascades Wolverine Study and focus on
locations where ongoing researchers have made specific requests to complement their efforts. A few of our
volunteers have also become involved and are sharing data with us from the Multi-State Gulo gulo Study through
their survey area at Mountaineers Creek. All highlights and data associated with that project will be reported on
and communicated through the Multi-State Study. We look forward to providing support and continued
collaboration with larger regional studies such as this one.
GRIZZLY BEAR MONITORING
At one time grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) roamed throughout the wild areas of Washington. After their
near extirpation from the lower 48 states in the 1800's, grizzly bears were listed as endangered under the
Endangered Species Act in 1975
12
. In 1997, the North Cascades, along with five other recovery zones, was
L. Lyon, and William J. Zielinksi, 99–127. Fort Collins, Colorado, USA: USDA Forest Service Technical Report, 1994.
10
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife December 17, 2013 press release: fws.gov/mountain-
prairie/pressrel/2013/12172013_wolverine.php
11
Federal Agency Ignores Best Available Science in Decision Not To List Wolverine:
http://www.conservationnw.org/news/pressroom/press-releases/federal-agency-ignores-best-available-science-in-
decision-not-to-list-wolverine
12
Grizzly Bears and the Endangered Species Act, National Parks Service:
http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bearesa.htm
