Wolverine encounter

[sapperJ24]

Incredible encounter! Thank you for sharing.

 

[ArJayCoyote49]

Unbelievable experience this weekend while elk hunting. I popped over a saddle into a basin we have frequented elk over the years and while standing silent listening for a bugle, I hear some sort of a light growl with chewing sounds off to my left. I glance that way and see an elk rib cage behind a old downed burned log and I see it moving. At less than 20 yds, I creep in a little closer to see what was working on that carcass and then I see a flash of black. First thing that came to mind was a baby wolf but then I thought no way a wolf baby would be that small still and then I get a better glimps, it's a wolverine! Luckily, it had no idea I was there and I was able to get four minutes of video of the little guy scavaging the area...until he came my way and then I had to whoa him. Here is a reduced 2 min clip of my encounter.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1136956117972763

That was truly impressive. That's an animal that most of us will never get to see in person. And not only do you spot one, but the guy puts on an entire show in front of you, and then walks straight towards you, completely unaware you were there. I wouldn't be surprised if you were the first human he'd ever seen.

 

[MT_elk]

Very cool!

 

[Jnasa]

Cool that you got a video. Awesome experience.

My dad saw one in Northern Idaho once. I told him he should report it but I don’t think he ever did. It’s amazing how far the males will travel to establish a home range.

 

[Threedognight]

I don’t see any video link. Is it still up?

 

[Nick87]

Awesome. Woukd love to see one personally.

 

[LuketheDog]

Dang, how cool is that?! You're lucky he didn't drop the elk leg and take one of yours...

 

[fishing4sanity]

Great video and I'm glad you're more talented than me. I had an amazing encounter at very close range with a coyote doing stuff I've never seen one do before. I got great video similar to yours, a few minutes after he left I decided to watch my amazing video and see how well it picked up the sounds. Except... I had missed the record button, then when I turned it off (which was actually on) and put it in my coat pocket I got a few minute video of the inside of my pocket to help me remember the encounter. Thanks for sharing.

 

[rjthehunter]

Awesome encounter.

Hunting is so much more than pursuing a given animal. Priceless experience!

 

[44hunter45]

Bucket list sighting right there. How cool to get video.

 

[RealMuddyboots]

So cool!!! Great video.

On a completely unrelated note, as a third gen Michigan State Spartan, "...fuq those wolverines!!"

I thought that was a Spartan rib cage....

 

[smw110136]

Did you ever have any luck reporting it? Just curious what your state agency had to say about the sighting and video?

 

[Hammsolo]

Once in all the lifetimes

 

[Baerman]

Did you ever have any luck reporting it? Just curious what your state agency had to say about the sighting and video?

I called Idaho Fish and Game and they said just email the information to licensing and they would forward to the correct biologist. It's been two weeks and no response. I've heard others that the recovery effort in Idaho has taken off and they aren't as rare as we all thought they might be...who knows but it was damn cool.

 

[noharleyyet]

Awesome video.

 

[Threedognight]

Video wouldn’t come up on my iPad, but it came up on our home computer. Super cool video, thanks for sharing!

 

[Rzrbck918]

Awesome! What an incredible experience.