How Dangerous is the Next Animal to be Reintroduced to Colorado?

Following the controversial voter-approved initiative to reintroduce Gray Wolves to Colorado's wilderness, rumors began circulating that the wolverine, an animal that was also once native to the Centennial State, would be the next wild animal to be reintroduced.

Read More: Will Wolverines Be the Next Species Reintroduced to Colorado? |

Now, it has officially been announced that wolverines will be coming back to three separate, albeit large, parts of Colorado.

This news begs the question: how dangerous are these animals?

How Dangerous Will Colorado's New Wolverines Be?

Wolverines will soon be reintroduced to three large areas in Colorado. These include a "central zone" which stretches from Gunnison to Aspen, a "northern zone" that encompasses Rocky Mountain National Park, and a "southern zone" that encompasses the San Juan mountains between Montrose and Durango.

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While wolverines have a reputation for being vicious animals capable of taking down other, much larger animals that are perceived as threatening, they are not typically known for starting fights.

In fact, studies show that a wolverine will rarely pose any threat ot a human. If an interaction were to occur, the animal would likely flee rather than attempt to defend itself against a person.

However, despite being much smaller in size, wolverines have been known to attack large, intimidating animals like caribou, moose, or even polar bears.

Experts recommend that if you find yourself in a part of the wilderness where wolverines are known to live, keep your pets on a leash or indoors, as while they tend to avoid interaction with humans, it is possible that they'll perceive a dog or a cat as a tasty treat.