Skunk-bear, for the musky scent that the animal can spray from scent glands when alarmed. In truth, the wolverine is one of the least known and understood mammals in the United States. The wolverine has a very large home range, and will roam over hundreds of miles through a variety of habitats, from 1,600 to 14,000' in elevation. However, most sightings in California occur in remote and wild areas at about 8000'. In general, California wolverines seem to use open habitat, mostly at or above timberline.
Female wolverines build dens to give birth and raise their young in.
A loping or bounding gait and stiff hairs on the bottom of the feet help the animal to move across the snow. Wolverine fur, which typically doesn't accumulate frost, was once used to trim parka hoods. Wolverines are occasionally able to capture a deer, or chase another predator away from a kill. A wolverine may range over 50 miles a day in search of food. Females typically select a den site on a rocky mountainside near or above timberline.