Yellowknife (Oct 01/03) - Pat Ehnes said he's seen wolverines before but not as big as the one he saw skulking around outside Weledeh Catholic school Tuesday morning.

It was just before the 10 a.m. recess break when Ehnes noticed the animal wandering around on the hill between Weledeh and St. Patrick high school.

"It was at least twice the size of any one I've seen before, living or mounted," said Ehnes, a maintenance worker at Weledeh.

"I don't know if it was looking around for something to eat or what it was doing," he said.

"It was just passing through I guess."

Ehnes has seen plenty of foxes near the school, but it was the first time he has seen a wolverine there.

He estimated the animal was about two feet high, but was uncertain how much it might have weighed. Males weigh around 35 lbs, females 20 lbs. Ehnes said he quickly alerted Renewable Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development and the school just as students were ready to head outside.

The last he heard, the wolverine was spotted two blocks from the school by Top of the World Travel about 20 minutes after the first sighting.

"It's probably up on Tin Can Hill or wandering around downtown thinning out the cats," he said.

Raymond Bourget, senior wildlife officer with RWED, said officers went looking for the animal with a tranquilizer gun in case they needed to capture it, but by the time they got there it was long gone.

He believes it was the first wolverine sighting in town this year although they usually hear of at least one every year.

"We're in the bush," said Bourget. "Pretty well every year we get at least one sighting."

He said wolverines are not normally dangerous unless cornered.

"If people stay away from it they'll be fine," said Bourget.