Wolverine Traits and Behaviors And If They Match My Own
Physical Appearance β
οΈ - Large, five fingered paws ending in sharp, curved claws, a broad head, powerful neck and forelimbs, dense shaggy coat, robust teeth with bone crushing molars, small ears, and a bushy, medium length tail have all been easily noticeable parts of my phantom shifts. With wolves I have always gravitated towards dark black and brown coats with shocks of cream about the shoulders and a dark face mask, which is also a common coloration of wolverines. Interestingly, while their forelimbs are fully plantigrade, their back legs are sort of in-between plantigrade and digitigrade. That is something that had been confusing me about my own werewolf shifts for a long time, as I knew for my handpaws to work, they would have to be plantigrade, but I could never quite tell with my hind-limbs. I felt like they should be more digitigrade, but that doesn't play nice with the ability to stand upright.
Movement Style β
οΈ/π¨ - When moving more slowly, wolverines slink with their heads low to the ground, as I do. Their primary form of motion is a medium speed trot that they use to power along for long distances. At an all out sprint, they can reach around 35mph. They are avid climbers of rock faces and trees, decent swimmers, and excellent runners. They have often been observed jumping off of rocks or out of trees onto enemies and prey. All of this matches well. I have always had some trouble reconciling how shifty climbing trees makes me, with the fact that canines don't really do that. They love to jump, climb, tumble around, and lay splayed out on their backs. While they are primarily quadrapedal, they do have the ability to stand up on their hind legs to look around and to attack with their claws, just as I describe myself.
The one thing that makes this a "somewhat" point is the very loping, raised back way they run. In dream shifts and neomata I have always felt that I run very smoothly, and phantom shifts have always felt like my shoulders were the highest point on my body.
Social behaviors β
οΈ - While wolverines are primarily solitary, they do form close bonds with their family members. Wolverine mothers have been observed still spending time with their kits into adulthood, and fathers are known to bring food to den sites and take their kits out hunting and playing with him when they are old enough. One clip showed a father wolverine getting caught in a trap laid by researchers, and his subadult son panicking trying to rip the trap apart from the outside, before collapsing against the walls of the trap sucking his paws in a self-soothing gesture and eventually falling asleep there until the researchers returned. This shows clear deep care for those they have socially bonded with. Despite these caring social bonds, wolverines still spend most of their time alone, and do not hunt or defend territory cooperatively. This speaks to me and my semi-social nature.
Reproductive Behaviors βοΈ - Male wolverines are generally polygamous, having large territories with 2 or 3 mates holding their own territories inside of his. He goes back and forth, breeding with and caring for each mate, and spending time with each of their respective litters. I strongly prefer to be strictly monogamous, and have one mate that I spend nearly all of my time with and put my resources towards. In this way my relationships are much more similar to a wolf breeding pair.
Wolverine breeding season is from May to August, with most kits being born in February and March. This feels accurate enough. It's hard to tell.
Hunting and Feeding β
οΈ - Wolverines both hunt and scavenge, and are incredibly opportunistic. During warmer months they tend to hunt smaller prey like rabbits and voles, along with stealing eggs from bird's nests. During colder times they take on far larger prey that is weak and disadvantaged in the snow. This can be mountain goats, bighorn sheep, or even caribou, elk and moose. At all times of the year they scavange and steal prey from other predators, especially wolves. Their unchecked aggression generally surprises other animals enough to abandon their kill. In winter they frequently scavenge animals killed by avalanches, and when they have too much to eat they cache it away in the snow to eat during harder times.
Some sources also cite them eating plant matter when there is less meat available. Favorites seem to be fresh sprouts, and berries.
Unlike most large predators, who are comfortable going days without food, wolverines generally begin looking for their next meal only hours after the last.
Territory β
οΈ - Male wolverines defend massive territories and strongly prefer areas mostly untouched by humans. Human presence in the area will frequently cause wolverines to abandon their dens or shrink their territories. They will travel for astoundingly long distances within their territories, regardless or terrain. Territory is marked by scent glands and presence in the area, and defended with tooth and claw. Wolverines are typically very low density because of the size and protection of their territory.
General Disposition β
οΈ - Despite their bad reputation, wolverines are actually quite shy. This is part of why it is so rare to see one, even for seasoned researchers and photographers who are seeking them out. They are also very playful, and enjoy jumping, digging and rolling in the snow. Young wolverines and mates will play fight together often. They are also thought to be very intelligent. Like many mustelids, they are brave beyond their size, and will face off against far larger predators like bears and wolves to protect their dens and food. They will sometimes even go out of their way to attack coyotes and single wolves just for the sake of getting them out of the area.
Vocalizations π¨ - Wolverines grunt, growl, snarl, and make noises similar to chirping and purring. All of these match with me, but they don't seem to have any sort of "broadcast" sound, and I often feel the urge to howl or make some similar noise when I'm excited or feeling strongly about "owning" an area.
