Wolf dens aren’t always made from soilīecause of the landscape in which these wolves live, covered in ice and snow, it can be hard for adults to physically dig a den for their young. When the majority of the pack goes off to hunt, one adult has to stay behind to look after the pups that are left and are too young to go and hunt.Ĩ. They use it to deter other wolves from coming too close. Wolves scent mark to show other wolves that they are there and where their territories lie. Arctic Wolves like to talk with their urine Male wolves in general are larger than the females (known as sexual dimorphism). He will carry on growing when all the other males have stopped. The alpha male, or main male in the pack is always the largest member. They travel insane distancesīecause their prey aren’t always easy to find (linked to limited vegetation in the wolf’s habitat) they have been known to roam in areas of up to 2,600 km squared to find food. They help keep their environment in check, by keeping herbivores such as the musk-oxen or artic hare numbers low. Arctic wolves are an apex predatorĪs there is nothing that predates upon them in their environment, these wolves are known as the apex (top) predator. However in the wild, as they occupy different regions and are adapted to these specific regions it is unlikely that this actually takes place. The Arctic wolf and the gray wolf are still considered the same speciesīecause the Arctic wolf and the gray wolf can still interbreed, they are considered the same species. In the Arctic, the hours of daylight can be limited at certain times of year and this is something that they are adapted to also. Their fur colouration also helps them blend into their environment, which is very useful when trying to sneak up on their prey when hunting. They have padded paws to help them grip the ice and snow that they run on and two layers of extremely thick fur, with one layer being waterproof to help keep water away from their skin. They are well adapted to the extreme cold having a shorter muzzle and smaller ears than their southern counterpart. While smaller than the gray wolf, their bodies are stockier with shorter legs. Temperatures in the Arctic can get as cold as -30 0c (and will feel colder because of wind chill), but because of their adaptations, Arctic wolves can survive in this extreme situation. When they reach around 6 months old they are considered adults and will join the pack in hunting. Pups will feed from their mother (usually the alpha female) and some lower ranking females.Īfter about 6 weeks, food will be regurgitated from the adults and given to the pups also. Litters of pups are born in dens, similar to other canine species. Howls can often signal a hunt is about to start or that they want to play. They also like to interact vocally with barks, whines, snarls and howls. If they want to show a more submissive stance they may put their ears backwards or lie on their backs (again, much like a domestic dog). They may bare their teeth and growl to show aggression or fear (in a similar way to domestic dogs). This is important for the stability of the group.Īrctic wolves communicate with each other in a variety of ways. The structure of a wolf pack is complex, with members of the group forming strong bonds with other individuals. The alpha male and female are usually the only ones who produce offspring. They will often track and attack animals that live in groups, such as caribou. They use their powerful jaws and teeth to attack the animal and help bring it down together. This is where group hunting comes into play. On the whole Artic wolves will target large prey species such as musk-oxen that are too large to be tackled alone. Within the pack there is usually an alpha male and female and they are the individuals that give signals to the others on how to behave. They hunt in packs, with each member having a specific role. Industrial expansion in the Arctic is one of the main threatsĪrtic wolves have a number of special adaptations that limit their exposure to freezing air temperatures and help maintain body heat. Musk-oxen, caribou, moose, Arctic hares, lemmings, ptarmigan, nesting birds Height 63-79cm, Length 0.9-1.8m (including the tail) Northern edge of the North American continent up into the Arctic and on some Greenland coastlines They have good stamina, and can run fast when chasing down their prey. The social organization within these packs is complex, with different members having different roles.Īrctic wolves have vast territories and they will roam large distances to find and hunt food. They are also known as the white wolf, or polar wolf.Īrctic wolves live in packs ranging from 4-7 members in size, depending on how much food is around. They reside on the Northern edge of the North American continent, up into the North Pole, and along some Northern and Eastern shorelines of Greenland. The Arctic wolf is a sub-species of the gray wolf.
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