Lone wolverine exhibit visits Saginaw

Have you ever seen a wolverine in Michigan? If you said yes, then you should report that to the DNR, as wolverines do not live in Michigan. However, local historians at the Saginaw Castle Museum have one on display for the public to see.

“This was a chance to bring a little novelty to our museum,” said Exhibit Coordinator Geoffrey Pelkey. “People had been talking about it (the wolverine) and it had been in the newspaper.”

The exhibit is of a wolverine that was found in the Thumb of Michigan; the only wolverine reported living there. It was found in 2004 by a high school teacher. It was then tracked through its natural life until it was found dead in 2010. It was then given to a taxidermist and made into an exhibit to celebrate its life and the wonder it brought to people who knew it. The Castle Museum has been the second museum to have “The Lone Wolverine” showcased.

The exhibit showcases the history of wolverines and Michigan's relation to them. Most people know that Michigan is called the “wolverine state,” but we don't have any that actually live here. The exhibit goes in-depth on how this came to be. It also shows a history of the wolverine itself. Though no one knows how it came to be a resident of Michigan, there was rumor that it was once an exotic pet, then set free into the wild.

Dennis Stewart, a Castle Museum frequenter, had thoughts on how this exhibit appealed to him and how the wolverine might have made it to our state.

“I'd rather it was alive,” said Stewart with a smile. “I think she (the wolverine) traveled in through Canada.” Not everyone was sold on the exotic pet theory, but it still stands.

“The Lone Wolverine” will be making its final stop at the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center in Bay City, which will become its permanent home.

If you're looking for a place to learn more about history, admission is 50 cents for children and a dollar for adults. Castle Museum memberships are also available for those who wish to be more involved and support their local museum. For more information, go to http://www.castlemuseum.org/ or call them at (989) 752-2861.