"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law [the Bible]." Psa. 119:18
In the northern woods of the United States as well as in the wooded parts of Canada and Alaska, lives the mean-tempered wolverine. It makes its den in a cave, under a fallen tree, or under an overhanging rock, lining it with leaves, grass and moss.
The wolverine is four feet long, weighs from 30 to 50 pounds, and has a dark-brown shaggy coat with a few light streaks through it. It looks something like a small bear. In fact, because of this and the strong odor it gives off, it is sometimes called a skunk bear. Its frost-resistant fur is used for clothing by people in very cold regions where frost buildup around the face and head of the wearer creates problems. Its good insulating qualities also help retain the wearer's body warmth.
Its black-muzzled, broad round head is armed with a vicious set of tough razor-sharp teeth. It also is armed with short but powerful legs, having four-inch, jet-black paws with long, spike-like ivory claws. In winter its feet are thickly covered with hair, becoming like snowshoes to help it travel over snow.
The wolverine is the scourge of the woods and is considered the most destructive animal. Unusually strong, it is feared by all animals and even avoided by those larger than itself. A meat eater, it will devour almost anything alive or dead and finds much of its food by digging foxes, rabbits and marmots out of their burrows. But if these are not available in winter, it goes after deer or elk weakened and slowed down by deep snow. Its strong jaws can crush the leg bones of a deer, making it defenseless and easy to kill. A wolverine can drag a dead animal more than double its own weight for several miles.
It will even challenge a cougar, wolf or bear that is feasting on captured food. The wolverine will, if hungry, go right up to these larger and more powerful animals, growl and snarl at them, displaying its sharp teeth and claws. Most of these bigger animals could defeat the wolverine if a fight resulted, but to avoid a bad time they will usually leave the food to this fiery challenger. If a fight does result the wolverine does not retreat and as a result will most likely be killed.
This bad-tempered beast reminds us of the warning given in the Bible -"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary [enemy] the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. It is only by putting our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping close to His care that we can overcome Satan, the evil one.