Wolverine rare seen charging down Oregon Street: ‘What the fuck?’

An Oregon resident was stunned after catching a rare wild animal – a wolverine – attacking on his suburban street.

“What the hell is that?” Willie Gonia gasped as he filmed the rarely seen large weasel running down his Eugene street.

“Face!” he shouted as the furry animal ran down the street. “This guy is out of his element.”

Gonia told The Dodo he ran out after “noticing something out the corner of his eye out the window” – and initially had no idea what he was looking at.

“He passed, but luckily for me he turned around and ran past again,” he said.

“After a split second, I knew it wasn’t a bear and I realized it was a wolverine,” Gonia told the channel.

“I’ve never seen one before in real life, only on wildlife shows.”

Wolverine sightings are extremely rare, with dwindling populations across the country. The contiguous United States has an estimated population of fewer than 300 wolverines, according to the National Wildlife Foundation.

Most wolverines are found in Alaska, where there are believed to be about two wolverines per 1,000 square miles.

Like bears, wolverines walk on the soles of their feet and have curved, partially retractable claws that allow them to climb trees. they are fierce predators that mainly attack mammals such as rabbits and rodents, experts say.

Although rare, more wolverine sightings have been reported in the state of Oregon, with 2023 being an “unprecedented year” to spot the creatures nicknamed “forest devils,” Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

Wolverines spotted in areas similar to Gonia are likely looking for a new territory or place to breed, similar to where they normally live, according to experts.

Beth Quillian of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife told the outlet that if you encounter a wolverine, you can take photos or videos without disturbing the animal, but emphasized that you should not chase the species, which is considered endangered in Oregon, on foot. or by car.