The arctic wolf is a white kind of gray wolf that lives in Arctic Canada, Alaska and Greenland. It weighs 32 to 79 kg, hunts musk oxen, caribou and arctic hares in packs of about 6 to 10, and survives months of cold and darkness with thick fur and fat. It is listed as Least Concern.
arctic wolves quick facts
- The arctic wolf is a kind of gray wolf.
- Arctic wolves weigh 32 to 79 kg.
- They mainly hunt musk oxen and Peary caribou.
- Arctic wolves cannot dig dens in frozen ground.
- A gray wolf pack’s territory can cover up to 3,000 square kilometres.
What is an arctic wolf?
The arctic wolf is a white wolf that lives in the far north of North America and in Greenland. WWF says it is also called the polar wolf or the white wolf.
It is not a separate species. The arctic wolf is a kind of gray wolf, the largest wild member of the dog family, and its scientific name is Canis lupus arctos.
Arctic wolves live in one of the coldest, most remote places on Earth, in the Arctic regions around the top of the world.
| Arctic wolf at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Canis lupus arctos |
| Where | Arctic Canada, Alaska and Greenland |
| Height | 60 to 91 cm (24 to 36 inches) at the shoulder |
| Weight | 32 to 79 kg (70 to 175 pounds) |
| Food | musk oxen, caribou, arctic hares and lemmings |
| Pack size | about 6 to 10 |
| Lifespan | about 6 to 8 years in the wild |
| Status | Least Concern |
What does an arctic wolf look like?
An arctic wolf has a thick white coat, a bushy tail and small ears. Its white fur helps it blend in with the snow, which makes it harder for prey to spot.
IFAW says the wolf’s thick coat and furry paws are vital for keeping warm. The fur between its toes helps it walk over snow and ice without slipping or sinking in.
Arctic wolves are a little smaller than many gray wolves further south. Their short ears and short muzzles lose less heat in the bitter cold.
How big is an arctic wolf?
IFAW says arctic wolves stand 60 to 91 cm (24 to 36 inches) tall at the shoulder and measure 100 to 180 cm (38 to 71 inches) from head to tail.
WWF gives a weight of 32 to 79 kg (70 to 175 pounds). Males are usually bigger than females. Britannica says female gray wolves are on average about 20% smaller than males.
What do arctic wolves eat?
Arctic wolves are carnivores, which means they eat meat. IFAW says they mainly hunt musk oxen and Peary caribou.
They also eat arctic hares, seals, waterfowl, ptarmigans and lemmings. When big prey is hard to find, small animals like hares and lemmings can make up much of their diet.
After a successful hunt, wolves eat a lot. Britannica says a gray wolf pack gorges itself, with each wolf eating about 3 to 9 kg (7 to 20 pounds) of meat.
IFAW says arctic wolves can survive for several weeks without food, which helps them get through times when prey is scarce.
How arctic wolves hunt
Arctic wolves hunt together as a pack. By working as a team, they can bring down musk oxen and caribou, which are much bigger than a single wolf.
The pack follows herds over long distances. IFAW says arctic wolves can travel up to 19 km (12 miles) a day.
Musk oxen defend themselves by forming a tight circle, with their horns facing outwards and their young in the middle. The wolves try to make the herd panic and break the circle, so they can reach a weaker animal.
Britannica says wolves can chase prey at up to 60 km/h (37 mph) over short distances.
Super senses
Britannica says wolves are well equipped for hunting, with keen senses, large canine teeth and powerful jaws.
An arctic wolf can pick up the scent of prey from far away across the open tundra. Its sharp hearing helps it find small animals, such as lemmings, moving under the snow.
Its eyesight is excellent too, which is a great help during the long, dark Arctic winter.
A day in the life of an arctic wolf
Arctic wolves spend much of their time on the move, following the herds of musk oxen and caribou that they hunt. IFAW says they can travel up to 19 km (12 miles) in a day.
When they are not travelling or hunting, the wolves rest, play and groom each other. Howling helps the scattered members of a pack find each other again.
Hunting is hard work, and many hunts fail. After a successful kill, the pack eats as much as it can, because it may be days before the next meal.
Where do arctic wolves live?
IFAW says the arctic wolf’s range covers the Canadian Arctic, including Ellesmere Island and Devon Island, parts of Alaska, and the western and northern shores of Greenland.
They live on the tundra, a treeless land where the ground below the surface stays frozen all year round. This frozen ground is called permafrost.
Arctic wolves do not live in Antarctica, which is at the other end of the world.
Life in a pack
Arctic wolves live in small family groups called packs. IFAW says a pack usually has about six to ten wolves, although some packs have more than twice that number.
Britannica says a gray wolf pack is a family, usually a breeding pair and their young. The parents lead the pack, and the older young help raise the new pups.
Wolves keep in touch by howling. Britannica says howling helps the pack stay in contact and seems to strengthen the bonds between its members. Howling, along with scent marking, also warns other packs to keep away.
A huge territory
Each wolf pack has its own territory, which it defends from other packs. Britannica says gray wolf territories can range from 80 to 3,000 square kilometres.
In the Arctic, prey is spread thinly over a vast area, so arctic wolves often need very large territories to find enough food.
Wolves mark the edges of their territory with scent, and they howl to warn neighbouring packs to keep out.
Arctic Wolf by Numbers
- 60 to 91 cm — An arctic wolf's height at the shoulder
- 32 to 79 kg — An arctic wolf's weight
- Up to 19 km — How far arctic wolves may travel in a day
- 60 km/h — How fast a wolf can chase prey over a short distance
- 80 to 3,000 km² — The size of a gray wolf pack's territory
- 3 to 9 kg — How much meat each wolf eats after a kill
Dens and pups
Most wolves dig dens in the ground to raise their pups. But IFAW says arctic wolves cannot dig in the frozen soil, so they use caves, shallow dips in the ground or spaces under rocky ridges instead.
A female usually has five or six pups after a pregnancy of about two months. The pups are born blind and helpless. Their eyes open after a couple of weeks, and they stay near the den while the adults hunt.
The whole pack helps feed and protect the pups. By autumn, the young wolves are big enough to travel with the pack.
An Arctic Wolf Pup Grows Up
- February to April The pack's parents breed.
- Spring Five or six pups are born, about two months later.
- Summer The whole pack takes turns to feed and protect the pups.
- Autumn The pups are big enough to travel with the pack.
- October or November Most pups are adult-sized and ready for their first winter.
- Two or three years old Many young wolves leave to find a mate and start their own pack.
Surviving the cold and dark
Life in the Arctic is tough. In winter, temperatures fall far below freezing, and for months the sun never rises.
IFAW says the Arctic has a long period of constant darkness from the end of October to the end of March. Arctic wolves have excellent eyesight, which helps them hunt in the gloom.
A thick layer of body fat under their fur keeps them warm and gives them extra energy when food is hard to find.
Built for the Cold
- A thick white coat — Keeps it warm and hides it against the snow
- Furry paws — Keep its feet warm on snow and ice
- Small ears and a short muzzle — Lose less body heat
- A layer of body fat — Keeps it warm and stores energy for when food is scarce
- Excellent eyesight — Helps it hunt through the long winter darkness
Why arctic wolves matter
Arctic wolves are top predators. WWF says they help control the numbers of other animals, such as musk oxen, caribou and arctic hares.
Britannica explains that by hunting plant-eating animals, wolves stop them from overgrazing. That helps plants grow, which in turn helps many other animals. Learn how living things depend on each other in our ecosystem guide.
Wolves and dogs
Pet dogs are descended from wolves. Britannica says people tamed wolves several thousand years ago, and careful breeding over many generations produced the dogs we know today.
With its thick white coat, fluffy tail and pointed ears, an arctic wolf can look a bit like a big husky. But it is a wild animal, not a pet, and it lives by hunting.
Arctic wolves and people
WWF says arctic wolves rarely come into contact with people, because they live in such remote places.
On some Arctic islands, scientists have been able to watch wolf packs closely for long periods, because the wolves are not used to being hunted and are less afraid of people. These studies have taught us a lot about how wolves live.
Arctic neighbours
Arctic wolves share their icy home with other hardy animals. The Arctic fox sometimes follows wolves to scavenge leftovers from their kills.
The polar bear also lives in the Arctic, though it spends much of its time on the sea ice hunting seals.
Are arctic wolves in danger?
WWF lists the arctic wolf as Least Concern. Because it lives so far from people, it is not hunted or persecuted like many of its southern relatives.
But it still faces threats. WWF says mines, roads and pipelines are spreading into its territory and disturbing its food supply.
Climate change is another worry. WWF says extreme weather in recent years has made it harder for musk oxen and arctic hares to find food, and their numbers have fallen. IFAW says arctic wolf numbers are decreasing.
IFAW says arctic wolves live for about six to eight years in the wild.
Three things people get wrong
Arctic wolves are not a separate species. They are a kind of gray wolf.
Arctic wolves do not live in Antarctica. They live in the Arctic, at the top of the world.
Arctic wolves do not dig dens in the snow. The frozen ground is too hard, so they use caves and rocky shelters.
Did you know? Arctic wolves can survive for several weeks without food when prey is hard to find.
Arctic Wolves: Fact or Myth?
- The arctic wolf is a separate species from the gray wolf.
- Arctic wolves are also called polar wolves.
- Arctic wolves live in Antarctica.
- Arctic wolves can survive for several weeks without food.
- Arctic wolves are listed as endangered.
- Pet dogs are descended from wolves.
- Arctic wolves often come into contact with people.
- Female gray wolves are usually smaller than males.
Try it
Find Ellesmere Island, Greenland and Alaska on a globe. How close are they to the North Pole?
Knowledge check
What do arctic wolves mainly eat?
Show answer
Musk oxen and Peary caribou.
Why can’t arctic wolves dig dens?
Show answer
The ground is permanently frozen.
Frequently asked questions
Where do arctic wolves live?
Arctic wolves live in the Canadian Arctic, including Ellesmere and Devon islands, parts of Alaska, and the western and northern shores of Greenland.
What do arctic wolves eat?
Arctic wolves mainly hunt musk oxen and Peary caribou. They also eat arctic hares, seals, waterfowl, ptarmigans and lemmings.
How big is an arctic wolf?
Arctic wolves stand 60 to 91 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh 32 to 79 kg (70 to 175 pounds). Males are usually bigger than females.
How do arctic wolves survive the cold?
They have thick white fur, furry paws and a layer of body fat. They can also go several weeks without food when prey is scarce.
How long do arctic wolves live?
IFAW says arctic wolves live for about six to eight years in the wild. Life in the Arctic is hard, so few wolves grow very old.
Are arctic wolves endangered?
No. WWF lists them as Least Concern, but mining, roads, pipelines and climate change are threatening their food supply.
Sources
- IFAW: arctic wolf — range, size, fur, diet, packs, travel, dens, pups, winter survival, lifespan and population
- WWF: arctic wolf — names, range, status, weight, length, role as a predator, and threats from industry and climate change
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: gray wolf — wolf family, packs, howling, speed, feeding, size differences and effect on ecosystems
Arctic Wolf Final Challenge
- What is the gray wolf?
- Which islands are part of the arctic wolf's range?
- How many wolves are usually in an arctic wolf pack?
- Who leads a wolf pack?
- What is spreading into the arctic wolf's territory?
- How has extreme weather affected arctic wolves?
- About how long do arctic wolves live in the wild?
