Mountain Life – Rocky Mountains - Fall-Winter 2021-22

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PHANTOM PURSUIT

Following the footsteps of the wolverine words :: Nikki Heim The elusive, enigmatic wolverine—few have seen one, many fear them. An unscientific Google search for “wolverines are…” returns “dangerous” and “fearless”—a sampling of the general population’s thoughts on the large weasel. A study encompassing the area of Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks found a population density of three wolverines per 1,000 square kilometres, that means in an area the size of Banff National Park there are likely only about 18 wolverines. Bow Valley ecologist, Nikki Heim, has studied the furry mesocarnivore for more than ten years, but, she has never seen one in the flesh. As with all the creatures that inhabit our wilderness, Heim says the magic is in knowing they’re out there. ~ML Read the expanded story at www.mountainlifemedia.ca/phantom-pursuit On the move.

JASON LEO BANTLE

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