PORTLAND, Oregon — There have been multiple wolverine sightings along the Oregon coast over the past week and a half, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW).
The agency said wolverines have been reported in Nehalem, Netarts and Newport, with the latest sighting in Newport on March 21. ODFW investigated and verified the sightings, the agency said on Monday in a post on its Facebook page.
"Dispersing animals regularly travel through diverse landscapes while looking for a new home, but it doesn't mean we're going to have a wolverine population set up shop anytime soon," ODFW said.
About a year ago, a wolverine was spotted on McGuire Island near Portland. That marked the first sighting in the area in more than 30 years. Before that, wolverines had only been reported in the Wallowa Mountains, though it isn't unheard of for them to roam. Other sightings were reported around that time, with wolverines seen crossing Highway 20 east of Santiam Pass, near Damascus and wandering a wooded area near Colton.
What to do if you see a wolverine
Wolverines are rare and listed as threatened in Oregon. ODFW said they are legally protected in the state, and people are prohibited from hunting or trapping them.
If you see a wolverine, you're asked to report it to ODFW and share the news on iNaturalist, an app and website that helps biologists track wildlife sightings.