Arctic Wolf

Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos)

Adapted for arctic life

Description

Arctic wolves have adapted very well to the difficult environment in which they live. They have white fur, to blend into their snowy surroundings. To help reduce heat loss, they have more-rounded ears, a shorter muzzle and shorter legs than other gray wolf subspecies. They also have hair between the pads of their feet and long, thick fur to keep them warm in temperatures that can drop to -56° Celsius (-70° Fahrenheit).

Arctic wolf (photo credit: tsaiproject)

Habitat and Range

Arctic wolves live primarily in the Arctic, the region located above 67° north latitude. The land is covered with snow and ice for most of the year, except for a brief period during the summer. A low density of prey in the Arctic requires vast territories, well over 1609 square kilometers (1,000 square miles)and much larger than their southern relatives.

Diet

The main prey of the arctic wolf is musk oxen and arctic hare, but they will also eat Peary caribou, ptarmigan, lemmings, seals, and nesting birds.

Dens & Pups

Permafrost in the Arctic makes it difficult for the wolves to dig dens. Instead, their dens are often found in rock outcroppings, caves, or shallow depressions in the tundra soil. The mother will give birth to 2-3 pups in late May to early June, about a month later than the other southern subspecies of gray wolves. On average, the number of pups raised in the Arctic is smaller than the average 5-6 pups born to wolves farther south. This lower number may be due to scarcity of prey in the Arctic.

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