Arctic Wolves

One of the most fascinating creatures inhabiting the Arctic is the wolf (Canis lupus arctos). Arctic wolves are a race, subspecies, or geographic variant of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) species that originally lived throughout the northern hemisphere north of 15°N latitude (12°N latitude in India). Year-around white coats and slightly shorter noses and ears distinguish these arctic wolves from other races of the gray wolf, and the lives of these wolves are basically the same as the lives of wolves everywhere.

Arctic wolves live in the area along the northern edge of the North American continent and northward to the North Pole, as well as along the eastern and northern shores of Greenland. Several large islands occupy the region between the north edge of the continent and the Pole. Although ice and snow permanently cover much of the area, parts of these islands become snow free between mid-June and mid-August and support enough low-growing plants to feed musk-oxen, Peary caribou, and hares. These creatures constitute most of the food supply for the white arctic wolves that live in this place called the "High Arctic." Some white arctic wolves can be found as far south as Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Alberta, Canada, at a latitude of 60°. At least one white arctic wolf has been seen as far south as northern Minnesota. Because arctic wolves sometimes disperse straight-line distances of over 550 miles, conceivably genes of the arctic wolf have found their way to Minnesota. On the other hand, most arctic wolves south of about 70°, which more or less borders the northern edge of continental North America, are gray or black. North of there, most if not all, arctic wolves are white.

Coat color is actually a very superficial characteristic with which to evaluate any species. The arctic wolf is a wolf. They are shaped like any other wolf, acts like any other wolf, travels like any other kind of wolf, breeds with any other kind of wolf, and behaves like any other wolf.

Arctic wolves really have never been hunted or seriously pursued in most of the High Arctic, contrary to their counterparts throughout the rest of the northern hemisphere. This makes these wolves mostly unafraid of any human beings they do run into. Rather than flee at the very scent of a human, arctic wolves merely stand and gaze. In some areas, arctic wolves can even be coaxed up close. Of course, they are very rare, with pack territories covering at least 1,000 square miles. In 2001, 2002, and 2003, even this last grand offspring was gone, and no arctic wolves were denning in the traditional den or the territory. Probably this was a result of very low numbers of muskoxen and arctic hares in this area. The low prey numbers seem to be related to snow cover during the last half of summer, both in 1997 and in 2000. Since then, weather conditions have improved, and prey for arctic wolves have begun to increase again. New arctic wolves began to use the area in 2003, and a pair produced 4 pups in 2004, that survived at least until July 15.

Source: L. David Mech, Biological Resources Division - http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/essay_mech.html