One of the country’s rarest mammals was recently spotted at Mount Rainier National Park. A wolverine in Washington was caught on camera and quickly went viral online.
Check out the video of the small predator on the second slide of this Instagram post:
In the footage, you can see the photographer, identified as Andrew Bellini, filming an animal he doesn’t immediately recognize. After a few seconds, the video captures a clearer shot of the animal running along a trail.
Judging by the visuals and the location, it’s believed this is a wolverine sighting.
Seeing a Wolverine in Washington is Rare
The animal is extremely rare and considered endangered. According to multiple conservation groups, some people believe there are only about 300 wolverines in the lower 48. Most of those can be found in the Rockies and the Cascades.
The animal looks like a cross between a small bear and a dog. They generally weigh between 17 and 40 pounds. The predators are known to eat hares, squirrels and birds. They also thrive in deep snow and use their large paws to easily trek across snowy areas.
Wolverines have largely disappeared from many of their historical habitats. In fact, by 2020, there had not been a confirmed sighting at Mount Rainier in 100 years, until a small family of wolverines was caught on camera.
“It’s really, really exciting,” said Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins at the time, in a press release. “It tells us something about the condition of the park, that when we have such large-ranging carnivores present on the landscape, we’re likely doing a good job of managing our wilderness.”
Wildlife officials say if you are lucky enough to spot a wolverine, report it to them. These sightings not only contribute to research but also support conservation efforts, as some areas work to restore the species to their natural habitats.