Between May and August, animals come together in pairs to breed. Pairs last only for a few days and both males and females may remate several times with other individuals. Ovulation is believed to be induced by copulation. The embryo is not implanted immediately, but rather waits in diapause for six months. After implantation, gestation takes only another 30-50 days.
Dams build snow-dens in which they give birth and nurse.
Births occur from January through April. Litters are from one to six and individuals in a litter may have different fathers. These young typically nurse for 8-10 weeks, are separated from the mother in the autumn, and attain adult size after 1 year. Wolverines are sexually mature at 2-3 years of life. Females up to 10 years old have bred in captivity.