Tracking Wolverines on Skis: See How Ferocious Fur Balls Help Activists Measure Climate Change

Wolverines are known for their ferocity, bravery, and strength relative to their size. They dwell in the high country and depend on deep snow for their survival. Tracking them can be extremely challenging, as they live in such remote and hard-to-reach areas. But researchers with the Cascades Wolverine Project have figured out how to track their movements in order to better study climate change.

The team uses game cameras to monitor the wolverines’ movements throughout the year. Then, in winter, they ski out into the backcountry, up above treeline, to the areas where these elusive creatures live. The data they gather helps them gauge not only how wolverines are adapting but also how the climate is shifting and by how much.

Cascades Wolverine Project is just one of the many nonprofit organizations that Patagonia supports with grants. This short video profiles the organization and its work in the Cascades’ high country.

Runtime: 1:22 minutes