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The Lone Wolverine: Tracking Michigan's Most Elusive Animal
It began in late winter of 2004. Almost 100 years had passed since the last spotting of a wild wolverine in Michigan when coyote hunters caught a glimpse of one of the animals in a frozen farm field in the northern thumb region. For the next six years, Jeff Ford, a local science teacher and amateur naturalist, devoted himself to locating and filming the wolverine that had unexpectedly and inexplicably appeared in the Wolverine State. By the time hikers found the animal dead in early 2010, Ford had taken hundreds of rare live action photos and shot numerous hours of video, with the story of the "Wolverine Guy" attracting national attention through countless newspaper and magazine articles and appearances on Animal Planet and PBS Nature . This is the tale of Ford's quest as he uncovered answers to mysteries surrounding the animal's territory and movement patterns, while sparking a flurry of controversy surrounding the elusive predator's origin, much of which remains unresolved today. It's an intimate look at research in the raw, from DNA samples stuck on barbed wire to a sophisticated, motion-sensing infrared camera unit strategically placed to observe nocturnal behavior. The Lone Wolverine brings to vivid life this unforgettable piece of American wildlife lore, using candid interviews, public records, and Ford's own vast storehouse of notes, personal writings, correspondence, and images, offering an extraordinary chronicle of a wild wolverine in its natural habitat, at play and in fierce competition for food and survival. This is a wildlife detective story, recounting years of study and fierce debate as researchers pondered the riddles of Michigan's last wolverine---her origins, habits, and ultimately the cause of her untimely death.
- GenresNonfictionAnimals
222 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 26, 2018
This is a very readable popular science account of the story of one particular animal, the Thumb wolverine, a creature that lived for six years (discovered by coyote hunters in 2004 and found dead by hikers in 2010) in the Thumb region of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Or rather, it is the story of one animal and one man, science teacher and amateur naturalist Jeff Ford, who devoted a great deal of time, money, and effort to study this one animal, one he came to dub “his pretty gal.” Despite a lack of official funding from any governmental organization (who at best tolerated Jeff’s efforts), Jeff and two of his friends (most of the time in the book just Jeff himself) were able to maintain a watchful eye and collect data on this one animal through the use of baits and ever increasingly sophisticated (and expensive) camera traps, eventually including the collection of fur from the wolverine for DNA analysis.
Though Michigan is known as the Wolverine State, wolverines had thought to have been extinct there for close to two centuries (even in the much wilder Upper Peninsula) thanks to trappers and habitat loss. Add the facts that the Thumb is hardly pristine wolverine habitat (“an endless place of flat farms and narrow woodlots,” not the wild boreal forests they prefer) and the nearest other known wolverine locales weren’t particularly close (a couple of hundred miles north, “near Thunder Bay on the north shore of Lake Superior, which is a long, long way from the Thumb”), nor places where they were even common, and the odds were stacked very high against the wolverine even being there, yet it became a well-known (though very rarely glimpsed in the fur) animal, even at the time garnering international attention and as told in the book, virtually becoming a part of Jeff’s family, as Jeff spent vast amounts of time on his private wolverine project, whether it was baiting the area with his on-site trail cameras, attending to the cameras themselves, trying to collect fur for DNA analysis, or hunting deer to feed to his “pretty gal,” Jeff’s family, who at times rarely saw him also due to his full time science teacher job, admirably chose to embrace his strange passion and show a real interest in his work, his young daughter even asking if his wolverine friend would ever come to visit them at home.
Much of the book is the story of Jeff’s study of the Thumb wolverine, though reading it also conveys a lot of information not just on this one particular animal but on wolverines in general, as Jeff deals with a diverse array of topics relating to the creature; where did it come from? How did it get here (for a time there was even a theory it hitched a ride on a garbage truck from Ontario, while at other times there were theories it crossed the frozen Great Lakes in the middle of winter)? Was it a zoo escape (there was a zoo in Minnesota that was missing one and a good deal of the book detailed this investigation)? Was it alone? Was it a remnant of a native population, missed all these centuries (with the author detailing similar claims about the state’s mountain lion population, the debate between the official line of there are a few having arrived from outside the state on their own and the less official view that they were “in fact natives surviving on the fringes of the urban/wilderness interface” and had always been present)?
On more practical levels Jeff and his friends had to deal with getting cameras that worked in the cold (and wouldn’t be stolen), putting down bait in such a way at the cameras that the wolverine wouldn’t whisk it away so fast that the cameras couldn’t photograph the animal, not leading poachers to the locale the wolverine called home (the Minden City Swamp), keeping away curiosity seekers who might endanger the animal or habituate it to humans or perhaps drive it out of the area and into becoming roadkill or a threat to local livestock owners, of a complete lack of aid (and some red tape) from the state agency ostensibly in charge of the wolverine, raccoons stealing the bait (detailed in a section, dubbing this the Raccoon War), and later on, Jeff’s near fatal heart problems, a big deal considering how physically demanding this project was.
Though there were two friends of Jeff important early on in the study of the Thumb wolverine (Steve Noble, high school principal and Jeff’s hunting buddy and Jason Rosser, another hunting buddy), they, just as they did in the media that covered the Thumb wolverine at the time, fell more or less by the wayside (in large part because they couldn’t devote near the time and resources Jeff did to the project). One figure that remained important in the story despite never meeting Jeff in person was a researcher by the name of Audrey Magoun, a wolverine specialist at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Their many emails back and forth sharing wolverine information (in large part to educate Jeff at first, later more as colleagues) and their developing friendship remained a strong thread through the entire book and were very informative.
It was sad that this was not an inaugural story of the return of wolverines to Michigan, but the book details why certainly the Thumb was not ideal wolverine habitat, certainly not for a breeding population and the implied reasonings behind why the state chose not to bring in a mate for the Thumb wolverine.
I liked the book, though I think some aspects could have been summarized a good bit. Some stories, such as the debates over the Thumb’s wolverine’s DNA could have been summarized or edited down a bit and the story of the Minnesota escape, while interesting and presented as an on-going mystery, certainly could have been told a bit more succinctly. Some of the emails presented in their entirety were quite interesting, but a few, while perhaps good documentation, could have benefited from being edited down a bit. I did like the numerous photographs of the wolverine and the excellent maps of not only the entire history of the Thumb wolverine but the next closest confirmed areas known to have wolverines and the specific encounters with them. There is a good index and very nicely done end notes. This book wouldn’t do I think for a good general treatment on wolverines, though there is lots of information on wolverines, but it is an interesting story and one I am glad I am now familiar with.
Though Michigan is known as the Wolverine State, wolverines had thought to have been extinct there for close to two centuries (even in the much wilder Upper Peninsula) thanks to trappers and habitat loss. Add the facts that the Thumb is hardly pristine wolverine habitat (“an endless place of flat farms and narrow woodlots,” not the wild boreal forests they prefer) and the nearest other known wolverine locales weren’t particularly close (a couple of hundred miles north, “near Thunder Bay on the north shore of Lake Superior, which is a long, long way from the Thumb”), nor places where they were even common, and the odds were stacked very high against the wolverine even being there, yet it became a well-known (though very rarely glimpsed in the fur) animal, even at the time garnering international attention and as told in the book, virtually becoming a part of Jeff’s family, as Jeff spent vast amounts of time on his private wolverine project, whether it was baiting the area with his on-site trail cameras, attending to the cameras themselves, trying to collect fur for DNA analysis, or hunting deer to feed to his “pretty gal,” Jeff’s family, who at times rarely saw him also due to his full time science teacher job, admirably chose to embrace his strange passion and show a real interest in his work, his young daughter even asking if his wolverine friend would ever come to visit them at home.
Much of the book is the story of Jeff’s study of the Thumb wolverine, though reading it also conveys a lot of information not just on this one particular animal but on wolverines in general, as Jeff deals with a diverse array of topics relating to the creature; where did it come from? How did it get here (for a time there was even a theory it hitched a ride on a garbage truck from Ontario, while at other times there were theories it crossed the frozen Great Lakes in the middle of winter)? Was it a zoo escape (there was a zoo in Minnesota that was missing one and a good deal of the book detailed this investigation)? Was it alone? Was it a remnant of a native population, missed all these centuries (with the author detailing similar claims about the state’s mountain lion population, the debate between the official line of there are a few having arrived from outside the state on their own and the less official view that they were “in fact natives surviving on the fringes of the urban/wilderness interface” and had always been present)?
On more practical levels Jeff and his friends had to deal with getting cameras that worked in the cold (and wouldn’t be stolen), putting down bait in such a way at the cameras that the wolverine wouldn’t whisk it away so fast that the cameras couldn’t photograph the animal, not leading poachers to the locale the wolverine called home (the Minden City Swamp), keeping away curiosity seekers who might endanger the animal or habituate it to humans or perhaps drive it out of the area and into becoming roadkill or a threat to local livestock owners, of a complete lack of aid (and some red tape) from the state agency ostensibly in charge of the wolverine, raccoons stealing the bait (detailed in a section, dubbing this the Raccoon War), and later on, Jeff’s near fatal heart problems, a big deal considering how physically demanding this project was.
Though there were two friends of Jeff important early on in the study of the Thumb wolverine (Steve Noble, high school principal and Jeff’s hunting buddy and Jason Rosser, another hunting buddy), they, just as they did in the media that covered the Thumb wolverine at the time, fell more or less by the wayside (in large part because they couldn’t devote near the time and resources Jeff did to the project). One figure that remained important in the story despite never meeting Jeff in person was a researcher by the name of Audrey Magoun, a wolverine specialist at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Their many emails back and forth sharing wolverine information (in large part to educate Jeff at first, later more as colleagues) and their developing friendship remained a strong thread through the entire book and were very informative.
It was sad that this was not an inaugural story of the return of wolverines to Michigan, but the book details why certainly the Thumb was not ideal wolverine habitat, certainly not for a breeding population and the implied reasonings behind why the state chose not to bring in a mate for the Thumb wolverine.
I liked the book, though I think some aspects could have been summarized a good bit. Some stories, such as the debates over the Thumb’s wolverine’s DNA could have been summarized or edited down a bit and the story of the Minnesota escape, while interesting and presented as an on-going mystery, certainly could have been told a bit more succinctly. Some of the emails presented in their entirety were quite interesting, but a few, while perhaps good documentation, could have benefited from being edited down a bit. I did like the numerous photographs of the wolverine and the excellent maps of not only the entire history of the Thumb wolverine but the next closest confirmed areas known to have wolverines and the specific encounters with them. There is a good index and very nicely done end notes. This book wouldn’t do I think for a good general treatment on wolverines, though there is lots of information on wolverines, but it is an interesting story and one I am glad I am now familiar with.
February 19, 2017
So, so repetitive. Just keeps circling the same arguments and questions over and over again.
The information is undoubtedly interesting, but this book is extremely hard to get through because of the repetition and the at times overly dramatic description. I don't consider it to be well-written. But if you can overcome that/it doesn't bother you, the information is worth it. Otherwise I would recommend just reading a Wikipedia article on the subject or something.
I would say you could buy it for the pictures, but there aren't nearly enough of them, and no color pictures. Really, just the information is all you'll get from it, so I would just recommend being aware of that before you decide to read it.
The information is undoubtedly interesting, but this book is extremely hard to get through because of the repetition and the at times overly dramatic description. I don't consider it to be well-written. But if you can overcome that/it doesn't bother you, the information is worth it. Otherwise I would recommend just reading a Wikipedia article on the subject or something.
I would say you could buy it for the pictures, but there aren't nearly enough of them, and no color pictures. Really, just the information is all you'll get from it, so I would just recommend being aware of that before you decide to read it.
Read
August 30, 2020Interesting read about the enigma of the "thumb wolverine" that turned up unexpectedly in northeast Michigan's "thumb" in the winter of 2004. Wolverines were extirpated from Michigan in the 18th century, but one suddenly appeared, living in a swampy and remote area. Discovered by local coyote hunters, the wolverine's existence was confirmed and state officials shrugged their shoulders. Where did it come from? A local high school science teacher made it his life calling to find the wolverine, photograph it and track its movements. Was it a captive that had gotten loose from somewhere? Or a wild "disperser" from Ontario that made it across the ice of the Great Lakes? Wolverine habitat is generally in the far north in places like Alaska, the Northwest Territories, but animals have been turning up as far south as California. Shaw does a good job of explaining the truth about this seldom-seen animal that has a fierce reputation, but is widely misunderstood.
July 13, 2024
A tear-jerker. Hoping it plays a role in the eventual reintroduction of wolverines in Michigan.
May 8, 2021
The writing is more dumbed down than Ford accidentally did of the genetic lab results but the story itself is super interesting and I'd love to know more about this amazing animal, who despite finding herself the only of her species in the Michigan wilderness, survived for years.
Repeats itself a lot and focuses on Ford's life more than necessary but they needed to make a book out of it so it makes sense. The true interesting parts focus on Ford's citizen science efforts and the wolverine behavior and genetics he discovered.
Repeats itself a lot and focuses on Ford's life more than necessary but they needed to make a book out of it so it makes sense. The true interesting parts focus on Ford's citizen science efforts and the wolverine behavior and genetics he discovered.
November 19, 2025
The Lone Wolverine was easy to get into. I fell in love with the easy writing style and story but as it went on, to me, the DNA part got a little boring. I admire the guys who took the time to study the wolverine and worked to get photos and video. It must have been exciting. A lot of work tho. The story ended rather abruptly and we didn't hear how Jeff fared afterward. Hope his health and family life were able to be repaired. I would recommend this for any Michigan wildlife enthusiast.
November 9, 2021
Too much information on the people versus the wolverine and observational findings.
February 7, 2017
Simply put, I think this is the second best book I've ever read.
I'm biased a little as the wolverine is my favourite terrestrial animal. But this was such an amazing book in it's own right. From the beginning to the end I was hooked and felt the highs and lows reading as Ford experienced the highs and lows during his time observing the wolverine. It's a fantastic story about a wolverine and one man's passion for the creature.
I'm biased a little as the wolverine is my favourite terrestrial animal. But this was such an amazing book in it's own right. From the beginning to the end I was hooked and felt the highs and lows reading as Ford experienced the highs and lows during his time observing the wolverine. It's a fantastic story about a wolverine and one man's passion for the creature.
June 16, 2012
Shaw should be praised for her superb undertaking from interviews and research to present in a very readable story of Michigan's documented wolverine, and Jeff Ford's personal challenge.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews