# What do I need to know before challenging a Wolverine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 30, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610 "2010-07-30T18:24:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/41 "2010-08-02T15:00:51Z")
I spent this summer in Alaska with my uncle hunting wolverines. They kept trying to attack my cousins, what the heck would you do in a situation like that? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/42 "2010-08-02T15:25:50Z")
I was approached by a large wolverine that was pursuing a wounded caribou but veered off to give me a good look in case I was easier game. He came up to and then circled at about 25 yards trying to get my scent. I fired a 12 ga. round over his head and he promptly renewed his previous interest in the caribou. I’ve shot a raccoon in the face with bear spray. I’d say the range on it was about 10 to 12 feet and at that distance it produces a still sufficiently dense pattern about 4 feet wide. The effect was immediate, although my guess is that it will probably only work on a curious or hungry animal and not one in a rage. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/43 "2010-08-02T15:28:33Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > I spent this summer in Alaska with my uncle hunting wolverines. > They kept trying to attack my cousins, what the heck would you do in a situation like that? Uh … _not_ hunt wolverines? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/44 "2010-08-02T15:44:02Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > I spent this summer in Alaska with my uncle hunting wolverines. > They kept trying to attack my cousins, what the heck would you do in a situation like that? Well, that’s obvious, isn’t it ? Use your cousins as bait. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/45 "2010-08-02T16:01:18Z")
Ok, in reading the thread let me clarify. I Live in the Rockies in Colorado, so when I say Northern Rockies I mean North of Banff, Cline River, Abraham Lake area. I’ll be packing in 2 canisters of Bear Spray, and I am thinking that ought to be enough. Luckily no people from Ohio will be there 🙂 I am not so much concerned about being attacked by a frothing mouth group of wolverines, as I am concerned with one of the kids who will be with us finding one munching on a carcass or something. These kids range in age from 8-13 and are very adventurous, so will most likely not stay with the pack for the whole day. I dunno,we’ll see about that. **Gary** I hike, climb and camp in the Absaroka’s. A good friend lives in Livingston and we are always heading up from Boulder to camp and hang out. Just a few weeks ago I was camping along the Lamar River and it was just gorgeous! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/46 "2010-08-02T21:01:26Z")
That’s what I thought you meant, **Phlosphr**. It’s funny how many times people come into my bookstore looking for a flower guidebook, and when I hand them “Wildflowers of the Central Rockies,” they say “No, I want one for _this_ area.” Northern U.S. doesn’t mean northern Rockies, or northern North America. You live in Boulder? I grew up just outside of town there. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/47 "2010-08-02T21:50:20Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:46, topic:548610”] That’s what I thought you meant, **Phlosphr**. It’s funny how many times people come into my bookstore looking for a flower guidebook, and when I hand them “Wildflowers of the Central Rockies,” they say “No, I want one for _this_ area.” Northern U.S. doesn’t mean northern Rockies, or northern North America. You live in Boulder? I grew up just outside of town there. [/QUOTE] Yep, I actually live west of Boulder at about 8200ft, Boulder was just an easy reference, but I work in Boulder. You just reminded me of a book that I just got that I bet you have seen and I bet you may even sell in your store called Weeds of the West. When I first moved here I was photographing a lot of local flowers and went into Boulder Books to get a flower reference. I happen to have my camera on me and they happen to have a horticulturist on staff, so I showed her a photo,and she said, that’s actually not a flower but a weed. She said that of 8 out of 10 photos and recommended me the weeds of the west book. It’s kind of funny, but I have found more of the plants I am photographing in that book than any flower guide I have purchased. I am bringing it with me up to Banff and hopefully will be able to identify a lot of what I am filming…and hopefully I won’t find any large voracious weasels 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/48 "2010-08-02T22:00:30Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > Yep, I actually live west of Boulder at about 8200ft I lived west of Boulder at about 7,200 feet. Next time you’re passing through this area, give me a heads up and stop by the bookstore. I’ll buy you a beer at the brewpub and we can chat about it. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/49 "2010-08-02T22:01:30Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:46, topic:548610”] That’s what I thought you meant, **Phlosphr**. It’s funny how many times people come into my bookstore looking for a flower guidebook, and when I hand them “Wildflowers of the Central Rockies,” they say “No, I want one for _this_ area.” Northern U.S. doesn’t mean northern Rockies, or northern North America. You live in Boulder? I grew up just outside of town there. [/QUOTE] Small world, I was just in Red Lodge a few weeks ago (the weekend before the big biker rally rolled into town), we hiked the Rosebud trail over to Cooke City. I do remember going into a backpacking store in downtown Red Lodge, don’t recall hitting any bookstores in particular. We didn’t see any wolverines (and only one grizzly in Yellowstone) although I did get bit on the toe by a fat mouse halfway along the trail. Elected not to use either the bear spray or the .454 Casull. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/50 "2010-08-02T22:28:05Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Contrary to popular belief, wolverines show no preference for fingertips over any other body part. That was quite a reach across the decades. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/51 "2010-08-03T15:15:18Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > These kids range in age from 8-13 and are very adventurous, so will most likely not stay with the pack for the whole day. I don’t think wolverines are really an issue, but I’d be kind of worried about 8 year olds wandering around out of sight in bear country. Bears only very very rarely hunt adult humans, but unprotected children are targeted much more often. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/52 "2010-08-03T16:01:08Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > > [@Phlosphr](#): > > > > These kids range in age from 8-13 and are very adventurous, so will most likely not stay with the pack for the whole day. > > I don’t think wolverines are really an issue, but I’d be kind of worried about 8 year olds wandering around out of sight in bear country. Bears only very very rarely hunt adult humans, but unprotected children are targeted much more often. I agree, and I doubt they will be left alone \ or allowed to venture out with the teenagers - who all carry bear spray. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610/53 "2010-08-03T20:25:16Z")
Small children are also targeted by cougars - we saw this live in the zoo once. A family had a small child that was playing around by the cougar enclosure, and when the cat saw the child, it went into full stalking mode. I think it would have totally freaked the parents out if they’d noticed it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know-before-challenging-a-wolverine/548610.md?page=2)