The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-05-07
THE WOLVERINES.
A Terocieus Animal That lives Only 10 the
North Woods Of Michigan.

Michigan IS called the Wolverine
state, but don't believe there are two
dozen persons outside Of that state that
know what wolverine is, said a na.
tive of the Green bay region, now a
New Yorker, to New York Sun man.
'sFr that matter, the people in Michi-
gan itself who can tell you whnt VOL
VERNE is are mighty scarce. Why this
animal should be particularly a resi-
dent of the Michigan wilderness l do
not know, but never heard OF 1t being
seen or heard OF elsewhere. The woaf
is a common animal all over the west,
or at least it was before civilization
limited its habitat, and the black beas
is also found everywhere in greater oa
less numbers. Then why should the
wolverine only have made its appear
ancc in Michigan, where it was III the
pioneer days as plenty almost as the
wolf, and even now is dreaded ire
ouenter 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 partak kes in other
wars of the nature OF the bear. The
old settlers of Michigan always insisted
that the animal was 4 cross between
those two beasts, and that IS 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 to some of the Characters
tics Of the animal admired by the hardy
pioneers who hewed commonwealth
cut of the great wilderness they found
about their inland sea.
1t is singular fact that no museum
or geological gardens has ever yet had
4 specimen of this unique member OF
the animal kingdom. ! say it is sinSu-
lar, aud l do not know that it is either,
for the reason that they have never
exhibited the wolverine is the great
difficulty, not to say impossibility. OF
capturing it alive, or Of keeping it alive
after it is captured. They are the most
savage Of beasts They have the ugly
temper Of the wolf. which they resem-
bic in appearance. but in size and sav-
ageness rhey resemble the bear OF the
western Businesses. But while having
the size and savageness OF the bear.
they excel him in aggresslreness and
ferocity. They do not have his clum-
siness. Their woltish appearance makes
the fact that they are expert and agile
tree-climbers seem odd. In lying In
wait for their prey they also resemble
the panther, for they will crouch close
" in the branches or forks OF a tree
and drop down upon their victim like
one of those great members OF the cas
family. They will attack y man in this
way as readily as they would tawn,
and many an unwary hunter in the
Michigan woods has fallen victim to
some hungry and indiscriminating VOL
VERNE. The claws of this strange anil
nal are much longer and sharper than
the bears and their teeth bigger and
more pointed and curved. Their warl-
ness is said by hunters to exceed that
of any animal on the continent, and
they are seldom hunted for the sport
of the thing, the danger being too
great. It is only when wolverine
has made his presence so destructive
TO the pastures aud sncep-folds of the
backwoods farmers that the entire loss
of their live stock is feared that the
farmers organize for q raid on the
wolverines, usually employing num-
Der of expert and daring woodsmen to
direct the hunt. l can't see for myself
what the pioneers Of Michigan saw ID
this animal to perpetuate its memory
by nicknaming theis state after 1t, ou;
the name is thorc, and Michigan Will
remain the Wolverine state long after
the wolverine IS extinct"