FISHER 85 



feet, and finally disappeared from si^ht behind the very last patch of 

 stunted white-bark pines on the north side of Mount Lyell. When first 

 seen, the fisher was about 200 yards off ; as it ra,n it paused occasionally to 

 look back in our direction. Its whole demeanor sug'gested that of a house 

 eat making its way over a rough surface at a rather good rate of speed. 



Sierra Nevada Wolverine. Gulo luscus luteus Elliot 



Field characters. — Size and proportions of heavily built dog; body stout (pi. 23c), 

 rather broad; legs short, feet big; tail quite short. Head and body 27-29 inches 

 (682-742 mm.), tail about 10 inches (250-260 mm.), ear about 2 inches (50-55 mm.); 

 weight 17 to 25 pounds (7.6-11.3 kg.). Coloration above, yellowish brown, dark on 

 lower back; head (except crown), feet, under surface of body, and end of tail, blackish. 



Occurrence. — Sparse resident of Hudsonian Zone along crest of Sierra Nevada. 

 Eecorded definitely in head of Lyell Canon at altitudes of 10,100 and 11,000 feet, July 26 

 and 25, 1915. Probably inhabits sparse forest. Solitary. 



The wolverine is a rare animal anywhere on the Sierra Nevada, and it 

 dwells only in the highest parts of these mountains. In consequence there 

 is but scant information concerning it locally and much of that is hearsay. 

 Only one of the local trappers in the Yosemite section had anything to 

 relate concerning the species and he merely reported one killed in the 

 region prior to 1914. Inclusion of the species here is based upon the 

 capture of two individuals at the upper end of Lyell Canon, late in July 

 of 1915, by Mr. Charles L. Camp of our party. 



Our station at the head of Lyell Caiion was at 9800 feet, but trapping 

 was carried on up to timber line toward Mount Lyell in an effort to obtain 

 various desirable species. For nearly a week a certain setting of steel 

 traps was visited daily and baited with marmot bodies and other similar 

 material. These traps were placed on bare rocky groiuid at the side of 

 a thicket of white-bark pines at timber line (11,000 feet) on a rocky ridge 

 between the McClure and Lj^ell forks. The snow was 4 feet deep in places 

 near hj. On Jvily 25, a female wolverine was captured in this setting, 

 and the day following an adult male was taken in another 'set' not far 

 off, at 10,100 feet. 



The first individual was held securely in all three traps. Nevertheless, 

 it struggled violently, and from time to time uttered grunting sounds. 

 When the observer placed his gun within reach, the animal quickly and 

 easily bit off a piece of the black walnut stock. 



The second wolverine captured was held by one hind foot in a steel 

 trap, but this did not hinder it from going through a variety of motions 

 limited onlj^ by the length of the trap chain. It climbed readilj^ into a 

 nearby wind-distorted lodgepole pine about three feet in diameter, using 

 the claws in holding on to the trunk. Several times while being watched 



