Efficacy of Olfactory-based Lures
for the
Detection of Wolverine

---

Investigators:
Jeffrey P. Copeland, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Leonard F. Ruggiero, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
James Claar, USDA Forest Service, Northern Region
Kevin McKelvey, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
John R. Squires, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Clinton D. Long, The Wolverine Foundation, Inc.

Problem Statement:
Distributional surveys are an important tool for determining species presence, and may be essential in the generation of habitat-relations models, in the evaluation of land-use changes, and the effects of human density and disturbance (Zielinski and Kucera 1995). Currently, resource managers lack a robust and quantifiable method to survey for wolverine.

Wolverine live in extremely remote settings making broad-scale surveys logistically difficult, especially during winter months when wolverine are considered most susceptible to bait stations. Summer-based lure stations combined with hair snares for the collection of DNA have provided an empirically tested method for the detection of lynx (McDaniel et al., 2000) and may be applicable for wolverine. Wolverine are believed to rely on olfaction in pursuit of food and mates and in spatial interaction with conspecifics. Sociality and communication in wolverine is likely facilitated by a repertoire of scent-marking behaviors including urination and abdominal rubbing. Such behaviors are likely elicited by olfactory cues and may be artificially reproduced and systematically distributed as a survey technique. Although anal musking is believed to be a fear/defense behavioral response, evidence suggests that artificially reproducing its olfactory cues may elicit investigation and also provide a viable survey tool.

Research Approach:
Our primary focus has been on investigating the mechanism of chemical communication within a narrow group of compounds collectively known as semiochemicals; a term most simply defined as substances by which organism interacts with organism. In the case of the wolverine, we are interested primarily in urine and anal gland secretions. We have also investigated other compounds that have anecdotally been considered attractants to determine their efficacy in eliciting preferred behavioral responses. In cooperation with the University of Montana Chemistry Department, and a captive wolverine facility, we have investigated the chemical constituents of compounds of interest through gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Results:
Nearly 30 individual compounds have been presented to captive wolverine with their response measured and catalogued. Field tests of several compounds and devices for the collection of hair have been deployed in the U.S. and Canada.

We will continue lure and hair-grabbing device development through the winter of 2003-2004 with plans to deploy a selected lure and device during the summer of 2004.