An early morning commute for Airdrie resident Mike Logan turned into a wildlife encounter when he spotted an unusual visitor on the road — he said he spotted an elusive wolverine.
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Logan told DiscoverAirdire he was driving east on Veterans Boulevard around 6:45 a.m. Monday when something crossed the west lanes and caught his attention. At first, he thought it might be a loose dog, but as he got closer, he realized it was no dog.
"... Then it stopped before me, and I could see it. It was a wolverine—pure black with huge claws. I couldn’t believe it," Logan said.
Logan described the animal as roughly the size of a dog. It stopped in the left lane for a few seconds, allowing him a clear look. The wolverine turned back toward the snowbank and sprinted away, heading toward the nearby Supermarket.
Logan, a Stonegate resident, is no stranger to local wildlife. He has seen bobcats, coyotes, and deer around Airdrie. However, this was his first wolverine sighting.
"I’ve never seen anything like that around here. It really caught me off guard," Logan recalled.
He posted about the encounter on a local social media group, warning pet owners to keep an eye on their four-legged companions. His post quickly gained attention, sparking a lively discussion among residents.
Some commenters shared their experiences with wildlife, with a few confirming wolverine sightings in the area, while others debated whether the creature could have been a badger. The conversation soon escalated into friendly debates, with some explaining the differences between wolverines and badgers, especially in terms of behaviour and habitat preferences.
A few people claiming to be wildlife experts chimed in, confirming the presence of wolverines in the region and noting that Fish and Wildlife is aware of and monitoring the situation.
There were also concerns about the potential danger to pets, with some suggesting caution when outdoors. Amid the debates, lighthearted comments emerged, including references to the Deadpool character and playful remarks about encountering a wolverine. Overall, the community was divided between those who believed the sighting was legitimate and those who remained skeptical, often with good-natured banter mixed in. But Logan was confident in his identification.
"I knew for sure it was a wolverine. I’ve seen a lot of animals, but this was something else," he said.
When asked why he shared the encounter, Logan said he took to social media partly out of concern for local pet owners.
"I have a small dog, and I was worried for other people's pets. Wolverines can be aggressive, so I wanted to give people a heads up," he explained.
Despite the surprising nature of the encounter, Logan was left wishing he had captured the moment on camera.
"I didn’t expect it to be a wolverine. It caught me so off guard, I didn’t even think to grab my phone," he admitted.
As for his neighbourhood, Logan says he’s now extra cautious when walking his dogs. "I’m definitely keeping an eye out now. A wolverine in your backyard is something else," he said.
While DiscoverAirdrie could not independently confirm what Logan saw, there have been confirmed sightings of wolverines in Airdrie. In May 2023, Airdrie resident Mason Bett photographed a rare wolverine strolling through the Morningside Crescent neighbourhood early Friday morning.
According to the province, the wolverine is a solitary and aggressive carnivore. It is the largest member of the weasel family and has a unique, dense brown coat with distinct stripes. Once widespread in Canada, its population has significantly decreased, particularly in southern and eastern areas, due to habitat loss from human activities.
Most recently, the province has been criticized by the Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) over changes to the 2024-2025 Alberta Trapping Regulations. The AWA responded to a recent provincial decision about removing certain trapping restrictions that could jeopardize vulnerable species like wolverines, fishers, Canada lynx, and river otters.
While some protections remain, AWA has highlighted the potential risks to declining species. The Alberta government, however, emphasizes the economic and cultural importance of trapping while acknowledging its role in supporting sustainable furbearer populations. AWA has called for further research to assess the impact on these species.
DiscoverAirdrie has contacted Alberta Fish and Wildlife for further comment.
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