![]() ![]() After mating, the female has a gestation period of 63 days and gives birth to 5 or 6 pups. Reproduction of the Arctic Wolfīecause the rest of the pack members are the offspring of the breeding pair, they usually do not reproduce until they leave and create their own pack. When the wolf pups grow old enough, they strike off in search of their own mate and territory to create their own pack. Most wolf packs are actually an extended family, which consists of a breeding pair and their offspring from the past year or two. They live in groups called packs, which vary in size between five and eight wolves. This wolf subspecies, like most other grey wolves, is social. The keepers also feed them a commercially produced ground meat made especially for zoo carnivores, and large bones to chew and break apart. Zookeepers provide them with large enclosures and plenty of space to exercise.īecause they are social animals, they must live in small packs. They usually live in very cold habitats, and thus they can only live in cold environment or temperature-controlled habitats. In zoos, these wolves can only be kept in proper conditions. Though they are distantly related to domestic dogs, they are wild animals and quite dangerous if threatened. Humans have not domesticated Arctic wolves in any way. Climate change is impacting the Arctic, and this subspecies’ primary prey species and habitat. However, this does not mean they do not face danger. In the frigid, harsh, frozen habitats of the Arctic Circle, very few humans penetrate the freezing conditions to study and see these creatures.īecause of this, Arctic wolves are the most stable subspecies of wolf. These wolves do not interact with humans very frequently. Particularly while hunting musk oxen, these wolves have to work closely together to bring down large and potentially dangerous prey. When they have the opportunity, they also hunt seals, lemmings, ptarmigan, and other nesting birds. Their primary target is the musk ox, but they also eat caribou and Arctic hares frequently as well. ![]() Prey is few and far between in the Arctic, so Arctic wolves have incredibly large territories and work together to capture prey. Outside of zoos, this subspecies does not live anywhere else in the world. They live in the Arctic regions of North America and Greenland. Most Arctic wolves live above the latitudes of 67º North, essentially, in the Arctic. Because the ground is permanently frozen, instead of digging dens, Arctic wolves seek the shelter of caves and rocky outcrops. Their tundra habitats have large, open expanses without any vegetation. Their winters are long, and their summers extremely brief and not particularly warm. The Arctic is extremely cold, with frozen ground and lots of snow for the vast majority of the year. It’s all in the name, Arctic wolves live in Arctic habitats. ![]() The bottom of wolves’ feet can get quite cold, and if they did not have dense fur in between the pads they could get frostbite! This adaptation protects the wolves’ feet from the permanently frozen ground in the Arctic, known as permafrost. The Better to Touch You With – These wolves also have dense fur in between the pads of their toes.Good thing too, because in some areas of this subspecies’ habitat, the temperatures drop to -70º F! This beautiful coat is quite long and dense, and works very well against the freezing cold temperatures of the Arctic. The white coat makes it difficult for prey to see wolves compared to the snow around them. The Better to See You With – Unlike their “grey” cousins, Arctic wolves have all-white fur.Smaller ears help reduce heat loss and keep Arctic wolves warm. The very opposite is true in cold environments. This is because the blood vessels are very close to the surface of the skin, which allows the blood to cool as it passes close to the outside air. Large ears, like those of hares, help animals in hot environments because they help reduce the body temperature. The Better to Hear You With – Arctic wolves have smaller ears than other wolf subspecies.They have multiple adaptations to help them survive in the frigid Arctic environment, learn more about these adaptations below. This subspecies is an incredibly hardy creature. At their longest they can grow to nearly 6 ft. Their fur, however, is dense and long in comparison to other subspecies. Compared to other subspecies of wolves, they have smaller ears, shorter legs, and smaller muzzles. Arctic wolves have white fur, which helps them blend in with the snowy environment around them.
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