Has a wolverine ever been seen in the town of Wolverine, Michigan?

Has a wolverine ever been seen in the town of Wolverine, Michigan?
Have you ever wondered this (probably not)?

The area now called Wolverine was settled by Jacob Shook in 1874. In 1881 it was parceled out and called Torrey, but a post office was given the name Wolverine. Why Wolverine? Because it was the state animal and the word probably originated in the 1830s.

OK, fine. But is there a reason for this? Has a real wolverine ever been spotted in town? It’s possible, but not certain. Authorities say the last wolverine spotted in Michigan was by fur traders in the 18th and early 19th centuries, but they won’t say where. It wasn’t until 2004 that one was spotted again in our state.…in the village of Ubly, to be precise… a good 313 kilometers from the city of Wolverine.

Wildlife officials also claim that the wolverine NEVER lived in Michigan, but somehow came here from Alaska and some from Canada. I believe the wolverine is a smart, elusive animal and that some may well live here.

The city of the same name is located in Cheboygan County and you pass it directly if you drive north on I-75 between Gaylord and Indian River.

In 1881, Wolverine had only 18 residents. When construction of a railroad began, hope grew. By 1891, Wolverine had 1,000 residents, most of whom worked in the lumber industry or on the railroad. By 1905, there were 1,800 residents. By the 1930s, lumber supplies were exhausted and the lumber business declined. Many people left town and sought a life elsewhere.

As of 2022, the town’s population was down to 283. Don’t let that stop you from visiting… there’s plenty of history and a good selection of locally owned shops to check out. The gallery below shows pictures of Wolverine from 1900 through the 1920s…

Vintage photos of Wolverine, Michigan

MORE VINTAGE MICHIGAN:

Vintage photos of Carson City

Vintage Photos of the Indian River: 1900s-1950s

Vintage photos of Fort Custer: 1917-1952