Wolverines pages 1-15

Questions and Answers

What is the role of scavengers in the animal world?

To find and eat carrion to survive

Wolverines are only found in northern Europe.

False

How far can a female wolverine cover in one night while searching for food?

18 miles (30 kilometers)

A wolverine's view of the world is shaped as much by __________ as by sights.

scents Signup and view all the answers

Match the following characteristics with the corresponding description:

Strong scent of carrion = Food source for wolverines Shaggy coat = Physical characteristic of wolverines Scent glands along the belly = Used for marking territory Long body = Physical characteristic of wolverines Signup and view all the answers

What is the reason the female wolverine moves away from the deer carcass?

She detects the smell of wolves, predators who kill other animals for food Signup and view all the answers

Wolverines have small, flat teeth and weak muscles.

False Signup and view all the answers

How does the female wolverine protect her feet from the sharp bits of ice and cold snow?

The fur covering the bottoms of her feet protects her from the sharp bits of ice and cold snow. Signup and view all the answers

The female wolverine can see well in the ______________________ light.

low Signup and view all the answers

Match the following animals with their characteristics:

Wolverine = Has big, cone-shaped teeth and powerful jaws Wolf = Predator who kills other animals for food Black bear = Awakens from winter's sleep looking for a meal Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Scavengers

Scavengers eat carrion (dead animals) to survive and are the cleanup crew of the animal world.
Without scavengers, dead animal bodies would rot, causing bad smells, taking up space, and polluting water, which could attract disease-carrying insects.

Wolverines as Scavengers

Wolverines are part of the scavenger cleanup crew in forests and open tundra of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
They have a strong sense of smell, which helps them detect carrion.

Female Wolverine's Behavior

A female wolverine can cover 18 miles (30 kilometers) each night searching for food.
She regularly spreads her urine to leave her scent, and also has scent glands along her belly to mark her territory.
She deposits another scent signature by dragging her belly along the snow.
Each wolverine has a home range, an area it knows well, and scent markers help other wolverines know that it's her territory.

Hunting and Feeding

A female wolverine cautiously approaches carrion, using her sense of smell to detect the scent of carrion and predators like wolves.
If she detects wolves, she waits for them to leave before approaching the carrion, as they are more than twice her size and might attack her.
She has a sharp memory, which helps her find the spot again later.
She can also dig through ice-crusted snow and frozen ground to retrieve buried leftovers from another meal.
Wolverines have big, cone-shaped teeth and powerful jaws with strong muscles, which help them gnaw and crush bones to get the marrow inside.

Physical Adaptations

The fur covering the bottoms of a wolverine's feet protects them from sharp bits of ice and cold snow.
A wolverine's sense of smell is shaped by scents as much as by sights.
They can see well in low light conditions.