Bill Mann, age 9, of Concord, N.H., for his question:

WHAT IS A WOLVERINE?

A wolverine is a fur bearing animal which lives in North America, Europe and Asia. It is related to badgers, skunks and otters. In Europe the animal is called the glutton.

A wolverine measures about two and a half feet long. It has a heavy build and short legs. It has dark, shaggy hair with tan markings and looks a bit like a bear.

The wolverine is one of the most powerful animals for its size in the world.

At one time, North American wolverines roamed from northern Canada far south into the northern parts of the United States. Today, unfortunately, they are rare because they have been hunted ruthlessly.

The wolverine is a very sly animal. He is often able to steal bait from hunters' traps with great cunning. Also, a wolverine seems to kill for the love of killing and he often destroys more animals than he is able to eat.