8
individual wolverines. Much is still unknown about these rare and elusive species, and the 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.
9
In response to the
negative finding from USFWS, conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against the government to continue to
pursue protection, citing habitat loss due to climate change and other factors
10
. 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 2017 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.
3) Collect genetic data through hair samples to help identify individual wolverines at all of our wolverine
monitoring locations.
In 2017, our wolverine monitoring continued in the Chiwaukum, Chiwawa, and Union Gap survey areas where our
remote cameras have contributed to individual wolverine documentation over the course of multiple years. We
also established locations at Alaska Lake (I-90 Corridor) in response to high reliability sightings and Ethel Lake
(Chiwaukum) by guidance of our Advisory Council. 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) 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
11
. In 1997, the North Cascades, along with five other recovery zones, was identified as a key
9
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife December 17, 2013 press release: fws.gov/mountain-
prairie/pressrel/2013/12172013_wolverine.php
10
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
11
Grizzly Bears and the Endangered Species Act, National Parks Service:
http://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bearesa.htm
