The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-04-19
THE WOLVERINES.



Michigan II called the Wolverine
state. but don't believe there are two
dozen persons outside OF that state that
know what wolverine Is. said na-
tive Of the Green bay region. now
New Yorker. To New York San man.
For that matter. the people In Michi-
gan itself who can tell you what vol
VERNE Is are mighty scarce. Why this
animal should bee particularly resi-
dent Of the Michigan wilderness | do
not know. but never heard Of II being
seen or heard of elsewhere. The wolf
Is common animal all over the west.
or at least II was before civilization
limited its habitat. and the black bear
Is also found everywhere In greater or
less numbers. Then why should tho
wolverine only have made It's appear
ance In Michigan. whore IL was in the
pioneer days as plenty almost rs the
wolf. and even now is "A dreaded ire
quenter of the woods of the northern
part of the state? The wolverine Is an
animal that has some of the character
istics of the wolf. and partakes In other
ways of the nature of the bear. The
old settlers OF Michigan always insisted
those two beasts, and that IL the belief
Of north Michigan woodsmen to-day.
When Michigan was admitted into the
union the wolverine was still common
in fact Infested all the forests Of the
state, and the state was named after
him. owing 10 some of the characteris-
ties of the animal admired BY the hardy
pioneers who hewed commonwealth
cut of the great wilderness they found
about their inland sen.
III is singular fact that no museum
or geological gardens has ever yet had
specimen of this unique member of
the animal kingdom. say il Is singu-
lar aud do not know that IL Is either.
for the reason that they have never
exhibited the wolverine is the great
difficulty. not to say impossibility. OF
capturing II alive. or OF keeping IL alive
after II Is captured. They are the most
savage of beasts They have the ugly
temper of the wolf. which they resem-
BILE In appearances. hut in star aud say
ageness they resemble the bear OF the
western Businesses. But while having
the size and savageness of the bear
they excel him in aggressiveness and
siness. Their woliish appearance makes
the fact that they are expert and agile
trce-cimbcrs seem odd. In lying In
wait for their prey they also resemble
the panther. for they win crouch close
liz in the branches or forks of tree
aud drop down upon their victim like
one of those great members of the cat
family. They will attack man in this
way rs readily rs they would fawn.
and many IN unwary hunter in the
Michigan woods has fallen victim TO
some hungry and indiscriminating VOL
VERNE. The claws Of this strange ami
NAL are much longer and sharper than
the bears aud their teeth bigger and
more pointed and curved. Their wari-
ness is said by hunters to exceed that
of any animal on the continent. aud
they are seldom hunted for the sport
Of the thing. the danger being too
great. Ii Is only when a wolverine
has made his presence so destructive
TO the pastures and sheep-folds OF the
backwoods farmers that the entire loss
of their live stock is feared that the
farmers organize for raid on the
wolverines. usually employing num-
her OF expert and daring woodsmen to
direct the hunt. can't see for myself
what the pioneers OF Michigan saw In
this animal TO perpetuate its memory
by nicknaming their state after II. but
the name Is there. and Michigan will
remain the Wolverine state long after
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