Olfactory preference test and its effect on stereotypic behavior in a female Wolverine (Gulo gulo)

In this study we tested a female wolverine’s preference for two different olfactory stimuli (male wolverine and cow). We also studied the effect of this test on the stereotypic behaviour displayed by this female wolverine. We recorded the duration and frequency of sniffing at each stimuli to determine which was preferred. The performance of stereotypic behaviour was recorded during both the sessions when the stimuli were present in the enclosure and compared this with the performance when no olfactory stimuli were present.
We concluded that the female wolverine preferred the male wolverine stimulus over the cow stimulus and the control and (that) there was no preference for cow stimulus over the control. We also noted that she checked or moved her hidden food caches shortly after sniffing the male wolverine stimulus.