The wolverine is the largest member of the weasel family and specially adapted for life on the snow. It feeds off carrion, hares, marmots and small rodents. Dr Brodie found that where winter snowpack levels are declining most quickly wolverine populations are also declining most quickly. Dr. Brodie attributes the decline to a number of factors including less food availability from ungulates being killed in deep snow, and less insulation from the snow for small rodent populations.

Canada's eastern wolverines are already endangered species and western populations are rated as being of special concern. Dr. Brodie recommends that wolverines be closely monitored and as climate change worsens, trapping and disturbance of wolverine habitat should be reduced.