Wolverine 949 



trap." All of this evidence, while not conclusive, has weight, 

 and hunters agree that the Wolverine is a wide-ranger, cover- 

 ing a region of at least 50 miles across in the winter. In the 

 summer it need not go so far for food and must stay in the 

 neighbourhood of its family. 



Mating takes place about the middle or end of March, mating 

 Miles Spencer is of the opinion that the Wolverine pairs, and 

 that the male assists in rearing the young.* Abe Leeds, my 

 Idaho guide, tells me that he has seen a pair of Wolverines 

 roaming together in autumn among the mountains of Jackson's 

 Hole, so it is possible that the species pairs for life, though the 

 analogy of other Weasels is against this conclusion. 



The den of one which they secured in Rensselaer County, 

 N. Y., is described by Audubon and Bachman, and from 

 their account we may form an idea of the nursery.' 



"There was a large nest of dried leaves in the cavern, nesting 

 which had evidently been a place of resort for the Wolverine 

 * * * during the whole winter, as its tracks from every 

 direction led to the spot. It had laid up no winter store, and 

 evidently depended on its nightly excursion for a supply of 

 food. It had, however, fared well, for it was very fat." 



The site chosen for the young ones' home is almost any 

 sheltered hollow in the ground or under rocks. Sometimes 

 the old one digs it out, but oftentimes uses any ready-made 

 convenient hole it can find. 



Gestation is supposed to last about 60 days; analogy gesta- 

 would make it about 100; but there is no conclusive evidence. 

 Indians and trappers report the mating season and the bearing 

 season from two to three months apart. Doubtless seasons 

 vary with latitude. Most of the Hudson's Bay Company 

 traders agree that the young are born in June, but in the Barren 

 Grounds, that is, the Arctic region, they may not come till July. 



' Low Expl. James Bay, 1888, Geol. Surv. Can., Part J, App. Ill, p. 77 J. 

 " Quad. N. A., 1849, !> P- ^og. 



