Few Montanans ever see one, but the wolverine still roams the state's most remote peaks. Few states offer a window into wild America quite like Montana.

Wolverines need deep spring snow to den and raise their young.

What sets it apart

A single animal may range over hundreds of square miles. It is the kind of specific that turns a passing curiosity into a lasting fascination.

Researchers track them as an indicator of wild, connected habitat.

Why it matters

Taken together, these threads say something about Montana itself — a state where the wild and the worked-over sit close together. Give these animals room, and the reward is a glimpse of a wilder, older America.