WOLVERINE WATCHERS: A Wildlife Monitoring Project in the Bitterroot National Forest

By Kylie Paul and Russ Talmo
Wolverine Watchers is a citizen-science monitoring project that collects data using wildlife cameras and baited hair snare stations. The project specifically aims to document wolverines and fishers on the northern half of the Bitterroot National Forest in the Sapphire and Bitterroot mountain ranges. Since they are such elusive animals and live in high, remote areas, there is not much information about their numbers, survival rates, or overall health. In 2015 Defenders of Wildlife teamed up with the Bitterroot National Forest to launch this project, which now enlists about 150 Missoula and Bitterroot Valley volunteers each winter season who monitor over 20 data-collection stations. They have documented up to 10 individual wolverines and 1 fisher and numerous other species (including multiple bird species!).

Many of their most intrepid and inspiring volunteers are members of Bitterroot Audubon, some of whom will share their stories of trekking into the forests, over and through snow and ice monthly January to April to check on equipment and wildlife activity.

Kylie Paul started Wolverine Watchers while working for Defenders of Wildlife, where she led the organization on wolverine, fisher, and lynx issues in the Rockies. She now works as a conservation biologist for MPG Ranch and will continue to co-run the project under that group. Russ Talmo has worked at Defenders of Wildlife in Missoula for over 5 years where he runs the grizzly bear electric fence incentive program and co-leads the Wolverine Watchers program.

Come join Bitterroot Audubon for this fascinating program, Monday, September 18th 7:00 P.M. at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge, located north of Stevensville on Wildfowl Lane. Kylie promises to regale us with natural history information, ongoing project results and humorous stories. Contact Kay Fulton at 360-8664 for more information.