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(WDFW), and the United States Forest Service (USFS), along with models that predict high quality
wolverine habitat in the region. CWMP's project advisory board also further helps refine target
locations for camera trap installations.
Research on the preferred habitat from the North Cascades has confirmed findings from elsewhere
in western North America. Wolverines activity is strongly associated with locations which maintain
snowpack into late spring. In the Washington Cascades, where most of CWMP's survey work is
carried out, this is high elevation subalpine and alpine habitats, much of it in steep mountain
terrain, primarily roadless. Because of this accessing camera trapping locations for wolverines
comes with significant logistical and sometimes safety issues for field teams.
Preparation For the Field
Prior to heading into the field, review maps of the area including the general location you are
targeting for your camera trap, material on wolverine tracks and signs, and guidelines for setting a
camera trap (see below). Field teams are provided with maps along with all of the field equipment
needed for installations. Be sure to plan enough time for your trip to allow for getting to the general
location, an appropriate amount of time to scout for setting camera traps and then actually setting
cameras. Successful camera traps often require a significant amount of time scouting in order to
locate the specific location to set them.
Collect all of the field equipment needed for the trip (see list below). Test remote cameras, ensure
that memory cards are empty and batteries are full. Ensure that you know how to use the cameras
and set cameras to the projects recommended settings. If there have been specific locations to
target for scouting or setting your cameras, enter these coordinates into the GPS unit. Prepare your
bait as appropriate. This may include drilling a hole in the marrow bone, or pre-rigging bait with
wires to secure it to a tree in the field.
In the Field
For new installations, once you have navigated to the general location to set your camera trap you
must select the specific location to set the camera trap. If possible look for landscape features that
will naturally funnel movement of animals, such as a pass on a mountain ridge, a well used game
trail, a stand of mature trees surrounded by meadows or brush and forests right along the edge of
treeline. Other things that might attract the attention of a wolverine on the landscape include
marmot colonies, locations used heavily by mountain goats, and the carcass of any animal in
appropriate habitat.
Look for tracks and signs that could be wolverine (see appendix below). Be sure to document it if
you do and use it to help understand how the animal may have traveled across the landscape to
help you decide on a location for an installation.
