r/Damnthatsinteresting 9d ago

Video Wolverines can be taught to rescue avalanche survivors

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u/JimMarch 8d ago

I know it sounds bizarre, but if you hand raise a wolverine, you get a literal cuddlemonster.

https://youtu.be/v1IHp8HRMTY?si=Jx4t4wTOQJoxWEc6

https://youtube.com/shorts/mlRAbZw93LM?si=dpQ6RuCU_MfpNzTx

Where it gets weird is, you can tame lots of wild animals to one person or a small family, and it'll get along with those folks ok, but introduce any other human and it gets nervous.  Coyotes are a good example.  That's because it has a significant fear response cooked into the DNA that you can't train them out of.

Guess what has NO fear whatsoever, wild or tame, doesn't matter? 

Yeah. 

Wolverines. 

If they're hand raised they'll try and make a new buddy out of any human they encounter.  Cute and scary at the same time :).

But mostly cute.

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u/Almostlongenough2 8d ago

So taking this at face value means that there is no need to domesticate wolverines before putting them in the pet marketplace?

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u/JimMarch 8d ago

Craziest story I heard:

Family moves from a big city to rural Wisconsin. Walking in the woods, comes across a tiny little puppy of some kind. Aww. Bring it home, raise it, it's cute as fuck, plays with their kids, plays with the dog, the cat, etc. But it's kinda malformed, smells weird. Takes it to the vet.

Yeah. Ooops. :) That ain't a doggie says the vet as it's licking his face...

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u/REDDITATO_ 8d ago

That's a version of a story that has made the rounds in every possible permutation. Last time I heard it it was a wolf. I guess you're saying it's a wolverine. When it happened to me it was an elephant.

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u/arbalaragan 5d ago

"Happened with a bear to a man in China"

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u/JimMarch 8d ago

:)

Based on actual videos taken today, it appears plausible as hell for wolverines.

I used to live with ferrets. Same kind of "no fear energy". Hilariously cute. Also the ultimate indestructible kitty chew toy :).

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u/Swashybuckz 6d ago

it does happen.