Elusive animal spotted outside its usual range for the first time in over 30 years

A wolverine was spotted this week by people fishing on the Columbia River near Portland, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. It was the first confirmed report of a wolverine in Oregon outside the Wallowa Mountains in the northeastern part of the state in more than 30 years. Wolverines resemble small bears with bushy tails and are listed as threatened in Oregon. On Monday, two anglers snapped photos of the animal and submitted the information to Cascadia Wild, a nonprofit wildlife conservation group that focuses on wolverine tracking, along with the department. On Tuesday, the groups verified the animal in the image and discovered a set of wolverine tracks near the river.

The sighting excited wildlife enthusiasts, and the state wildlife agency is asking anyone who captures images of the animal to submit them to the department. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, wolverines are found in California, Colorado, and Washington.