Winter Wolverine Photography

Winter wolverine photography offers a unique opportunity to photograph the wolverine (Gulo gulo) in a snowy wilderness landscape. For many wildlife photographers, winter is a particularly attractive time to photograph wolverines, as snow creates strong contrast, visible tracks and clean photographic backgrounds.

Photography takes place from wildlife hides located in the middle of a pristine wilderness area. These are the same hides used for bear photography during the summer season. In winter the landscape becomes more open and brighter, providing excellent opportunities to photograph animal movement and behaviour in a snowy environment.

Depending on the hide, wolverines may approach as close as five metres, allowing photographers to capture both tight close-up images and wider environmental photographs that include the surrounding winter landscape. Snow reflects light and creates soft, natural illumination for photography.

Several individual wolverines live in the area, typically three to four animals, and they can be seen regularly during the winter season.

Winter also offers unique photographic conditions. Northern lights, full moonlight and changing weather conditions such as snowfall, mist or frost can create atmospheric and unique photographic situations. During full moon nights it may be possible to photograph throughout the entire night using natural light.

In addition to wolverines, other animals occasionally move through the area. Wolves are rare, but sightings are possible. The winter landscape and animal tracks in the snow also provide interesting opportunities to document wildlife activity in the wilderness.

Winter wolverine photography offers wildlife photographers the chance to photograph this rare predator in the calm and dramatic atmosphere of the northern winter.

Photographic opportunities

• opportunity to photograph wolverines in a snowy wilderness landscape

• animals may approach as close as 5 metres

• possibility to use both telephoto lenses (200–500 mm) and wide-angle lenses (28–100 mm)

• 3–4 individual wolverines regularly present in the area

• clean snowy backgrounds and visible animal tracks

• northern lights and moonlight may create unique photographic situations

• during full moon it may be possible to photograph throughout the night in natural light

• changing weather conditions such as snowfall, mist and frost create varied photographic opportunities

• possibility to see other wildlife, although wolves are very rare

Schedule

4:00 pm Information briefing, followed by a short walk to the hides.
The hides are reached via a short walk (500–900 m) along a firm snowmobile trail, making access relatively easy even in winter conditions.

8:00 am Return from the hides and breakfast.

If desired, photographers may also return from the hides in the morning for breakfast and rest during the day in the accommodation. After dinner in the evening it is possible to return to the hides again for night photography. This offers flexibility especially for photographers staying several nights.