This is a brief update to a similar 1955 paper (see record for Newby and Wright 1955) that further documents an apparent increase in wolverine numbers and distribution in Montana since the 1920's.

"Reports from trappers, hunters, U.S. Forest Service and Montana Fish and Game Department employees accumulated since 1953 show a continuing increase in the region demonstrated as occupied in 1953. These reports also document an extension of range to areas where wolverines had not been reported for many years." (485)

"It is significant that a 1954 canvass of Montana Fish and Game Department employees did not produce even a single report of a sighting of wolverine in southwestern Montana while a similar 1961 canvass of Department and U.S. Forest Service employees produced a number of authentic capture records of wolverine in addition to sight records not used in this report. The authors believe that this is conclusive evidence of continuing repopulation of much of the remaining wolverine habitat in Montana." (485)

The new records are further described in a map and table.

"The wolverine is totally unprotected in Montana and is subject to predator control efforts in settled areas. There have been no efforts at artificial restocking." (487)

"It is of interest that the fisher (Martes pennanti), although extirminated in much the same fashion, has not made any comparable recovery. There area no recent authentic reports of fisher occurrence prior to artificial restocking begun in 1958. Since the release of 40 fishers in 1958 and 1959, 5 of the original animals and one offspring have been reported or recovered. This number of reports from such a limited population suggests that the complete absence of such reports of either fisher or wolverine for extensive periods strongly indicated extinction of these species." (487)

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