Human Dimensions of Wolverine Perspectives and Attitudes of Backcountry Winter Recreationists (Poster)

Abstract

With their young being born and subsequently raised beneath the snow’s surface each winter, the wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a species whose ecology is deeply tied to snow and its persistence on the landscape. Across the Northwest, areas of deep, long‐lasting snow are not only important to the wolverine, but to the region’s backcountry recreationists. Studies have shown both wolverine behavior and landscape occupancy to be impacted by motorized, and nonmotorized winter recreation (i.e., backcountry skiing and snowmobiling). While in recent years more work has been done to evaluate the impact of winter recreation on wolverine ecology, very little has been done in the way of evaluating the human dimensions of this relationship. As climate change continues to alter the winter landscapes of the Northwest and threatens to diminish and concentrate the region’s winter snow packs, it is of utmost importance that we strive not only to understand the ecological consequences of overlap between wolverines and winter recreationists, but also the attitudes of these recreationists towards wolverines and their conservation. As the North American wolverine has just been granted threatened status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), improving our understanding of public perceptions of the species will play a vital role in species management.