How far can wolverines travel in a single day while searching for food, and how are they adapted to move through deep snow?
Wolverines can travel up to 40 miles in a single day across deep snow and rugged mountains.
Equipped with large, snowshoe-like paws, wolverines glide effortlessly over deep snow drifts that would slow down other predators. Their exceptional stamina and high metabolism enable them to hunt and scavenge across vast, frozen territories where food is scarce and survival demands constant movement.
Nerd Mode
The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a remarkable endurance animal, capable of traversing 30 to 40 miles in 24 hours without rest. A 2011 study by the Wildlife Conservation Society tracked a male wolverine in Wyoming that covered over 500 miles in just two months, crossing high-altitude peaks and navigating busy highways. This exceptional mobility is enabled by their plantigrade posture and massive paws, which measure up to 5 inches wide and function like natural snowshoes by distributing weight across soft snow.Living in low-density populations, wolverines maintain enormous home ranges exceeding 200 square miles for males. Their metabolic rate is significantly higher than other mammals of comparable size, providing the constant energy required to climb vertical icy slopes and endure temperatures as low as −40°C. Their fur is uniquely hydrophobic, shedding water and resisting frost accumulation, which prevents the animal from freezing after intense physical exertion.Wolverines are often called "gluttons" because they must consume large quantities of calories to sustain their nomadic lifestyle. They frequently scavenge carcasses abandoned by wolves or cougars, using their powerful jaws to crush frozen bones. This combination of specialized anatomy and high-energy physiology makes them one of the most efficient long-distance travelers in the animal kingdom.
Verified Fact
FP-0003869 · Feb 18, 2026