Few and far between, endangered wolverines are difficult to track

Wolverines in the contiguous United States were listed as threatened by U.S. Fish and Wildlife last week.

The mammals, which are the largest member of the terrestrial weasel family and look like a small bear, are incredibly difficult to track and understand.

"I knew that they were a mythological creature for most people, because most people will never see them. But I was lucky to see their tracks in the Cascades," Stephanie Williams said when asked about the first time she saw wolverine tracks.

Williams is the co-founder of the Cascades Wolverine Project, an organization of field scientists and outdoor enthusiasts based in the Methow Valley who track the animal via remote cameras.

Before her work as a field researcher, she worked in the outdoor industry and was ski touring with her husband just east of Stevens Pass and she saw some large paw prints in the snow.

"I think my curiosity was sparked right away that we were sharing habitat with this creature," Williams said. "What the heck were they doing in this in this place? It didn't seem like there was a whole lot of food around. I really didn't know anything about wolverines at that time."