The arctic wolf, sometimes referred to as the white or polar wolf, is an extremely hardy animal. Given that it lives in some of the world’s most inhospitable environments, it must be. Its hunting areas see air temperatures that never get above -30°C in April, which, when combined with wind chill, results in temperatures of -100°C or below. Seldom does the ground thaw, and when it does, it only affects the top few centimeters of soil. Due to the low quality of the soil, herbivores have few food sources. As winter approaches, huge grazers like caribou and musk ox are forced south by wolves in search of better food.
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Distribution
Primarily inhabiting the Arctic, which is situated above 67 degrees north latitude, is this subspecies. This is the region that stretches along the eastern and northern coasts of Greenland, as well as the northern boundary of the continent of North America and north to the North Pole.
What is the Arctic wolf’s scientific name?
Canis lupus arctos is the scientific name for the Arctic wolf. The name of the subspecies, Lupus arctos, is Latin for “wolf of the Arctic,” whereas the genus Canis is derived from the Latin word for dog.
Where do Arctic wolves live?
The Arctic wolf inhabits one of the world’s most isolated habitats. It includes portions of Alaska, the northern and western borders of Greenland, Ellesmere Island, and Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic. Arctic wolves are solitary animals who rarely come into contact with humans. Unlike other gray wolves, they are free to travel across their areas. As a matter of fact, the only subspecies of grey wolves present throughout their whole natural range is the Arctic wolf.
There is some relief from the gloomy and frigid winters during the short summer, which lasts from mid-June to mid-August. In addition to longer days, the typically icy landscapes thaw to reveal low-growing plants, which increase the amount of food available to the Arctic wolf’s preferred prey and facilitate wolf hunting.
Habits and Lifestyle
Living in packs of seven to eight related individuals, Arctic wolves are gregarious animals. Every member of the pack has a position in the dominance hierarchy, and there is a very complicated social structure inside the pack. Through body language and communication, every wolf is aware of its whereabouts. The dominant female mate and the male leader of the pack are the only ones who typically mate. On the other hand, caring for the puppies is a shared job among all pack members. Since many of the species these animals prey on are particularly active in the winter, these creatures do not hibernate. They are usually diurnal; however, they might be awake during the day or at night. Arctic wolves exchange their kills after hunting in packs.
A wolf can communicate in a few different ways. They howl for a variety of purposes, including alerting other pack members to their whereabouts or organizing the group for a hunt. A howl can also serve as a warning to other wolves in the area to avoid their territory. They alert other wolves to their presence and territorial limits by using scent markers.
Appearance and Behavior
The weight of an adult Arctic wolf ranges from 70 to 125 pounds. A 70-pound wolf weighs the same as four adult Dachshunds combined. They can grow to a maximum length of 5 feet, including their tail, and range in height from 2 to 3 feet. Consider the typical Christmas tree. The length of that tree is almost three quarters that of an Arctic wolf.
This wolf has two layers to its coat, which are white or occasionally gray. In the tundra, the upper layer thickens as the temperature drops. Waterproof fur is found closest to the wolf’s skin. In below-freezing temperatures, this wolf’s waterproof fur covering keeps it warm and dry.
Arctic wolves can walk on icy ground thanks to their paws’ strong pads and insulating fur coats. They also have grip on the slick surfaces they run on and walk on, thanks to these pads. When pursuing muskoxen or other prey, Arctic wolves sprint. An Arctic wolf has been seen to travel as fast as 46 mph.
Diet/Feeding Habits
The amount of food that the Arctic wolf can eat is severely restricted because of its location. They typically consume caribou and musk oxen. It takes a team to properly take down one of these animals because they are considerably bigger than they are. Despite their excellent hunting skills, their prey frequently escapes before they have a chance to launch a full-frontal assault.
However, they will succeed when they do establish contact. Arctic Wolves have strong jaws and incredibly keen teeth. They have the ability to crush the bones and tear into the flesh of the prey they catch. At a time, they may consume almost 20 pounds of meat. They will typically eat as much as they can when it is easily accessible to them since they anticipate that it may be some time until their next meal.
Adaptation
Body language: They have a wide range of visual cues that convey intentions, mood, and social status. To name a few, subtle variations in body and head angles, tail and ear positions, maintaining and resuming eye contact, and facial emotions. For instance, several emotions can be conveyed through tail movements: friendliness, aggression, fear, status, social tension, threat, and surrender.
Human Interactions with Snow Wolves
Compared to the creatures who lived here before me, the human settlements that do surround the natural habitat of these snow wolves are relatively recent arrivals on the frozen landscape. Since the artic wolf has not been hunted or come into sufficient contact with humans to acquire a phobia, it does not fear humans. In fact, they have been observed to do nothing more than stand and stare at humans. They may even be persuaded to approach you if you cajole them enough. Therefore, they are an especially alluring subject for photography. Particularly when a frightened subject could have to endure the bitter cold and snowfall for a longer period of time.
I made the decision to heed the Alpha’s advice and turned around to return to my camera in order to get a better look at the snow wolves. In the meantime, the male Alpha and his partner had reached the summit of the mountain. From their new vantage point, they scowled at me, making sure they had sent their point well. And I felt instantly a part of everything around me at that particular moment. All of a sudden, I was here.
Life Cycle
A litter of two to three wolf pups, or whelps, is born after a gestation period of sixty-three days. May is when most women give birth. The puppy’s eyes and ears are closed at first, and they take 12 to 14 days to fully open. They go from being breastfed to consuming their mother’s regurgitated food in a matter of weeks. They live with their mother for six months before participating in group activities. Eight months later, they are fully developed adults.
Arctic Wolf Hunting
Like other wolves, Arctic wolves hunt in packs. They mostly hunt caribou and musk oxen, but they will also kill a lot of smaller animals, including ptarmigans, lemmings, seals, and Arctic hares. Moose are another frequent prey; because of their long legs, they can become slow and occasionally stranded in deep snow, which makes them open to assault by wolf packs.
Arctic Wolf Reproduction
Arctic wolves typically only mate when they are the dominant male and female, although in large packs, other individuals may also mate. Arctic Wolves frequently choose rock outcroppings, caves, or even shallow depressions as dens instead of ground holes because of the permafrost soil in the region and the challenges it presents for den construction.
Approximately one month after Grey Wolves, the female gives birth to two or three puppies in late May or early June. It is usually believed that the shortage of prey in the Arctic is the reason why grey wolves have fewer pups than the average of four to five. The gestation period for female Arctic wolves is roughly sixty-three days. For two years, the wolf pups live with their mother.
Arctic Wolf Care
These wolves can only be housed in suitable environments, such as zoos. They can only survive in environments that are cold or have controlled temperatures because they often inhabit extremely cold habitats. They have spacious enclosures and lots of room to exercise, thanks to their zookeepers.
They have to live in small packs since they are gregarious animals. Along with big bones to chew and break apart, the keepers also feed the animals commercially manufactured ground meat designed specifically for zoo carnivores.