The Arctic wolf is a subspecies of the more common gray wolf. This wolf can be distinguished by its longer white coat. The Arctic wolf is native to different regions than the gray wolf, living primarily in the Canadian Arctic Islands, Greenland, and Alaska. The Arctic wolf is not threatened or on the endangered species list. This is primarily due to its remote habitat. Since its so remote, the Arctic wolf tends to stay safe from much human interaction or development of the land where it lives. However, humans are one of the few predators that the Arctic wolf has to defend itself against. Following are some interesting facts about the Arctic wolf. What are Some Physical Characteristics of the Arctic Wolf? The Arctic wolf tends to be smaller than its gray wolf counterpart. The average size of an Arctic wolf can range anywhere from 55 to 150 pounds, and 3 to 5 feet in length when measured from head to tail. Its fur is all white, helping the Arctic wolf to blend into its environment and hide from potential predators. The female Arctic wolves tend to be smaller than male Arctic wolves, as is the case with other subspecies of wolves. What Does an Arctic Wolf Eat? Arctic wolves are carnivores. They typically hunt in packs and have specific animals that they seek out. Some typical animals hunted by the Arctic wolf include musk oxen, Arctic foxes, lemmings, seals, nesting birds, and Arctic hares. Although the Arctic wolf is a carnivore, it is not without its own predators. The Arctic wolf is hunted by polar bears, other types of wolves, and sometimes humans. Wolf expert L. David Mech lived in the Arctic for nearly 10 years. He spent this time studying the Arctic wolves and getting to know more about their living habits and how they thrive in the Arctic. He has authored several books on the topic. How do Arctic Wolves Stay Warm? Arctic wolves have special coats that help to keep them warm in the frigid Arctic temperatures. Their naturally white coat helps to keep them warm by changing with the weather conditions. In the winter, these wolves actually grow two very different layers of fur. The bottom layer, or undercoat, is soft and thick, and the top layer, or topcoat, is much longer and more coarse. The outer layer is often referred to as guard fur, and it can grow to be up to 5 inches long. In the warmer months, the wolves shed the guard fur and grow a much shorter summer coat of fur. What is Everyday Life Like for the Arctic Wolf? Arctic wolves live and travel in packs. These packs can contain anywhere from two to 20 wolves. Wolf packs live by a hierarchy, led by the alpha male and female, and the next in line are the beta male and female. The rest of the wolves are subordinates of these four leader wolves. These packs can travel and mark an entire territory as their own. The territory that they claim may be as large as 1,000 square miles. Even though the Arctic wolf is not an endangered species, it still needs to be protected from harm caused by development of its environment and hunters. The greatest threat to the Arctic wolf is actually humans. While they have predators in their natural habitat, Arctic wolves have not had to learn how to protect themselves from humans and therefore are more vulnerable because of this. Since these wolves travel in packs, they offer each other protection and help to find and kill their prey, but this does not mean that life is always easy for the Arctic wolf. The average lifespan of the Arctic wolf is about seven years in the wild, but they can live up to 14 years or more when in captivity
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 19:31:29 +0000
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