Buddy and the Magic Chicken Tree is the second installment about Buddy the wolverine. Here is a sample from the upcoming story. It is written by author illustrator MaryA Livingston and wildlife biologist Amanda Shufelberger. It is illustrated by me, Tim Livingston.
Buddy loves his chicken! Image courtesy of Red Tail Publishing.
Buddy, the Wayward Wolverine, published by Red Tail Publishing in 2013, is a fantastical story of a real wolverine.
Buddy is the subject of Forestry Friday, because he was original discovered during forestry research projects. One carnivore study run by wildlife biologist Amanda Shufelberger inventories carnivores on private forestland. The data is used to ensure that proper forest management techniques are implemented to protect and enhance carnivore habitat.
Buddy presence was first discovered in 2008. His DNA places his roots in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. We can only imagine how Buddy got to California – Buddy, the Wayward Wolverine. These are some of the videos from the wildlife camera taken as part of the carnivore study.
THE FORESTER ARTIST 
Lovely illustration, Tim. Can’t wait to see more!
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Thank you Sarah! There is more coming soon.
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Tim,
Thank you for the wildlife you teach us about. I enjoyed learning about Buddy.
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Thank you Linda!
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Kids (of all ages) would love this!
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Oh, I hope so Esther!
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Another great from Tim and Co. Great illustration and the portrait.. come very good here.. I like it and I am a big kid sure little will find it great too. Good luck.
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Thank you Doron, I hope they do.
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I would love to see one of these guys. Maybe not close up…
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You must have them in your neck of the woods. Maybe you will sometime. I agree, I too would love to see one. We only have the one that we know of in California. I would probably have to come to your house. 😉
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No point in starting whole new reply when I’m thinking exactly what ^ annerose said. I have big gratitude for nature doc makers and now children’s book authors/illustrators. That’s as close as I ever want to be.
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Well, then we should all get together and go on safari to see a wolverine. I’m in how about you and Annerose?
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Tim, the illustralion that you have posted here is marvelous. You and Mary are unstoppable and unbeatable in your abilty to tell a story- in words and in paintings.
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Yvonne, you are so sweet, thank you from both of us. 😀
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So you got me interested enough to Google the wolverine habitat range and now I understand why it’s odd, his kind are mostly Canadian, eh! Well, us 4 season folk sometimes don’t want to see a ‘-‘ before our temperature and head for sunnier pastures ☀That’s my take on why Buddy is enjoying the California sun! Thanks for keeping children interested in the outdoors. I’m worried many parents let their kids enjoy too many video games. I’m not a huge kid fan, but I do help with my local forest preserves in a program called LNCI, or Leave No Child Inside. It creates activities to promote healthy, educational outdoor activities for children. Great drawing btw!
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Thank you Ilex. Good for you helping to get the kids out in the woods. I often wonder what the long term effect of these games on society. It just seems like so many kids aren’t interacting with nature or people. A great disconnect indeed.
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There seems to be a controversy over whether or not there are any wolverines left in the “wolverine state” (Michigan). Maybe Buddy the wayward one has a clue as to the real answer. As of now the only one that can be easily seen is stuffed…
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I remember reading a story of a man in Michigan who capture one on a wildlife camera several years ago. He tracked it for a few years and had determined it was a female. Then a year or two ago she quit showing up and while checking his cameras he found her carcass.
We as of now have the one known wolverine in California and we have had a lone wolf coming and going in California. I believe this is a trend of expanding wildlife populations, particularly predators, and we will see more showing up. Wildlife in managed so differently from 50 years ago and many of these population are spreading out. Michigan will probably see a sustained population of wolverines in it’s future. At least that’s my prediction
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At first I thought I was looking at a brown bear, as the video began, that is. Then I saw the long, bushy tail. What is/was it removing and eating from the tree??? Lovely story.
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It really is a cool story. Unfortunately, he has no mate, poor fellow. However, he made it here so maybe a female will too.
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Or he may leave and go back the way that wolf did — You know, the one that crossed the border from Oregon to California and then went back.
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We followed OR7 pretty close. Fish and Game put his track map online, with about a month delay. According to the map he passed within a quarter mile of our house. I would have loved to have seen him.
As for Buddy, he’s been in the same area for the last six years. He may have made it there on his own or he could have been covertly trapped and released. Whatever the case he has never left.
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I hope more show up cos he must be lonely, poor guy.
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I agree. Then we would have to do another book.
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Reblogged this on The Backdoor Artist and commented:
Buddy’s back!
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Beautiful work on the illustration Tim, the story is coming along nicely.
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Thank you Mary. I am really looking forward to finishing it up. I’m very close!
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Great stuff! Wonderful drawing and interesting story.
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Thank you Susan. I’m can’t wait to see the finished story.
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Buddy sure looks like a BIG, agile fellow!! I’m looking forward to the new story! Thanks for sharing!
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Actually Rhythm, he is about half your size. However, wolverines make up for thier size with pure ferocity!
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Good illustration!
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Thank you DG!
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