“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I
make up MY JEWELS.”
(Malachi 3:17)
To my dear grandchildren
Just How Bad Are Wolverines?
“Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us
wiser than the fowls of heaven?”
(Job 35:11)
A number of years ago we reviewed the life of a wolverine, and from information available then we said, “The wolverine is a wicked destroyer.” We also called it “a bad-tempered beast.” But since that time, scientists have studied this animal more thoroughly. Now many agree that, although it can be vicious and frightening, it does have some good qualities too. We’ll look at some of these.
A member of the weasel family, it is related to badgers, skunks and others. This dark brown, lively animal is about three feet long, plus an eight-inch tail. It looks something like a miniature bear, except for its bushy fur and pointed face. It is one of the most powerful animals for its size in the world. Its north American homeland is in many of the wooded areas on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, as well as Alaska. The wolverine is also found in Europe and Asia.
Until a more compete study was made, it had the reputation of being a vicious killer of small-and medium-sized animals and birds. But in their interesting research, it was discovered that this is only true when the wolverine is extremely hungry. It should actually be called a scavenger, which is an animal whose main food is animals or birds already dead or injured.
Following that discovery, it was pointed out by the researchers that it is really a vey helpful animal, by cleaning forests and fields of dead creatures (much like what crows and vultures do). To really appreciate this, we need to keep in mind that a dead fox, squirrel, coyote, or even small bird soon decays. These carcasses attract flies and insects that can carry harmful bacteria and diseases to many places, causing sickness and death to other animals, birds and even people.
But there’s no denying that a hungry wolverine, finding a way to break into a trapper’s unoccupied cabin, will gobble up any food it can reach. That, of course, doesn’t make them very popular with the trappers, nor does their making a meal out of animals caught in traps and ruining the valuable furs. So its easy to see how these lively animals have gotten a bad reputation.
We might ask, “Will the Creator allow this to go on forever?” The Bible provides the answer, telling us, “By one man, Adam, sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans 5:12). There is a time coming when those who accepted the Lord Jesus as their Saviour will find that “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death” (Revelation 21:4). This promise is only to those who know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour. Can you claim that promise?
Love you all - Grandpa
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