Both a scavenger and a predator, the wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a member of the mustelid family that has captured imaginations due to its reputation for unmatched ferocity. However, it has also drawn attention across North America because of its declining population. Wolverines are currently considered threatened in the Lower 48 states of the U.S. and are classified as a Species of Special Concern under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. In Alberta, wolverines have a status of “May Be at Risk,” with studies suggesting the province’s population may be fewer than 1,000 individuals (Fisher & Jahid, 2025).
In response to the lack of data on wolverine populations, Alberta’s Minister of Forestry and Parks has removed all trapping quotas for the 2024/25 trapping season. The impact of increased trapping on Alberta’s wolverine population has yet to be determined. However, biologists and conservation organisations question whether trapping is an effective method for gathering data to improve population estimates.
The new plan states that there are no quota limits on wolverines in zones 1–6 throughout the season, which runs from November 1 to January 31. In zones 1 and 2, the season is extended until February 15. These six zones cover most of Alberta, excluding only the southeast. All wolverine home range territory falls within these zones.
A study conducted from 2011 to 2020 (Barrueto, 2022) found that wolverine density was three times higher inside protected areas, suggesting that some of the population may be shielded from trapping.
Map Credit: GoA 2024
Like many of Alberta’s wildlife species, wolverines are facing increasing pressures from climate change, habitat loss, and fragmentation as their population declines. Due to their solitary nature, wolverines appear to be highly sensitive to human-caused disturbances, mortality, and infrastructure development, forcing them into increasingly remote territories (Stewart, 2016).
These combined pressures all impact wolverine populations, but human disturbance and mortality are factors that could be more easily managed through land use and conservation policies. In parts of British Columbia and Alberta, human-caused wolverine mortality was reported at or above a sustainable harvest rate between 2010 and 2020, even during periods when trapping quotas were in place (Barrueto, 2022).
During the same study period, Alberta saw a 39% decrease in winter wolverine density and occupancy and a 47% decrease in summer occupancy within both protected and unprotected areas (Barrueto, 2022). This significant population decline occurred despite the presence of quotas, which likely helped reduce human-caused mortality. If trapping limits remain lifted in future seasons, the impact on Alberta’s remaining wolverine population could be severe.
Another challenge in wolverine conservation is the lack of reliable data on population numbers. One of the reasons cited for removing the trapping limit is to improve population databases through trappers’ reports. While reported trapping data can help support population estimates, it is often biased for a number of reasons including a weak accounting of effort, financial incentive to report findings that support continued suspension of quotas, and motivations that fluctuate with fur prices.
Given the wolverine’s status and the potential for further population decline without a quota, biologists have suggested that alternative data collection methods would be less harmful and more objective. Considering the disparity in wolverine distribution between protected and unprotected areas, additional research will be needed alongside trapping data to produce an accurate population estimate.
The effects of the new trapping regulations will need to be closely monitored in the coming years to assess their impact on wolverine populations. Ideally, monitoring efforts will be implemented proactively to prevent a “catch-up” scenario where data lags behind regulatory decisions. If wolverine population estimates fall below 1,000 individuals, policy changes should reflect the urgency of conservation efforts.
References
Barreuto, M., A. Forshner, J. Whittington, A.P. Clevenger, M. Musiani. 2022. Protection status, human disturbance, snow cover and trapping drive density of a declining wolverine population in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Scientific Reports. 12 (17412). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21499-4
Fisher, J.T., M. Jahid, R. Gutsell, A. Hubbs, L.L.E. Cowen, M. Barrueto, N. Heim, J. Paczkowski. 2025. An Estimate For Wolverine Density for the Canadian Province of Alberta. Ecology and Evolution, 15(1): e70702. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70702
Stewart, F.C.E., N. Heim, A.P. Clevenger, J. Paczkowski. 2016. Wolverine behaviour varies spatially with anthropogenic footprint: Implications for conservation with inferences about declines. Ecology and Evolution, 6(5). http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1921
“Wolverine Trapping Limits” was researched and written by Bria Griffin.
