# Can Wolverines leap? (Not urgent...) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-wolverines-leap-not-urgent/555757 "2010-10-01T18:14:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-wolverines-leap-not-urgent/555757/1 "2010-10-01T18:14:42Z")
I had an odd dream the other night about a wolverine – the big, bulked-up weasel, not the hairy mutant. In the dream, I was watching the beastie leap onto the back of a moose, which it killed after much clawing/tearing/biting. Would a wolverine actually be able to do this? I don’t picture them being able to jump like that – leap onto a moose’s back, since they are pretty tall critters – but perhaps I am wrong. Any information would be appreciated, as always. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-wolverines-leap-not-urgent/555757/2 "2010-10-01T18:18:43Z")
I’ve no clue about a wolverine’s leaping ability so I can offer no insight there. I can say that experience has shown it to be quite difficult to stay on the back of an angry moose. Yes, tequila shooters were involved. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-wolverines-leap-not-urgent/555757/3 "2010-10-01T22:58:25Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > I’ve no clue about a wolverine’s leaping ability so I can offer no insight there. > > I can say that experience has shown it to be quite difficult to stay on the back of an angry moose. > > Yes, tequila shooters were involved. Why do you ask? Well, the wolverine didn’t have to stay on too long – the moose didn’t go very far before collapsing! Now I am also wondering if that is realistic – a wolverine killing a moose! I know that wolverines are supposed to be pretty strong for their size, but there is quite a size differential between wolverine and moose… I do have odd dreams, though, I must admit. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-wolverines-leap-not-urgent/555757/4 "2010-10-01T23:24:01Z")
Scroll down to the abstract on page 41 of this [pdf](http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/terra_org/wildlife_07/sensitive_species/wolverine/research_management_abstracts.pdf). Short answer re:moose, it appears it happens but is probably rather rare and involve either calves or badly compromised adults. Still seriously badass. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-wolverines-leap-not-urgent/555757/5 "2010-10-01T23:33:16Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Scroll down to the abstract on page 41 of this [pdf](http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/terra_org/wildlife_07/sensitive_species/wolverine/research_management_abstracts.pdf). > > Short answer re:moose, it appears it happens but is probably rather rare and involve either calves or badly compromised adults. Still seriously badass. Hey, that was fascinating! Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-wolverines-leap-not-urgent/555757/6 "2010-10-02T01:42:05Z")
I doubt very much that a wolverine would be able to leap onto a moose’s back from the ground. However, I have seen references to wolverines jumping onto the backs of prey animals from trees. I would guess that a wolverine could get onto a moose’s back either that way, or by leaping from a trunk or snowdrift.