© Staffan Widstrand
Arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos)
White wolf of the North
The arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos) is a sub-species of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) and lives in the arctic regions of North America and Greenland.
Thanks to its isolation, the arctic wolf is not threatened by hunting and habitat destructuion like its southern relatives. In fact, the arctic wolf is the only sub-species of wolf that is not threatened.The arctic wolf lives mainly on muskox, arctic hares and caribou.
As the permafrost (permanently frozen ground) prevents the arctic wolf from digging a den, they typically live in rocky outcrops or caves. Each year the mother wolf gives birth to two or three pups.
Interesting facts
The wolf has held a prominent place in the folklore and mythology of many cultures. In European culture it has been demonised and appears regularly in children’s stories as the “big bad wolf”.
But in most Native American mythologies, the wolf is revered as a powerful spirit and its place in the web of life is seen as vital. An old Inuit saying from the Kivalliq Region in northern Canada, says: “The caribou feeds the wolf, but it is the wolf who keeps the caribou strong.”
Distribution
Arctic regions of North Amercia and Greenland.
Threats
The greatest threat to the arctic wolf is . Extreme weather variations in recent years have made it difficult for populations of muskox and arctic hares to find food, and this has caused a decline in numbers. In turn, this has reduced the traditional food supply of the arctic wolf.
Industrial development also poses a threat to the wolf, as an increasing number of mines, roads and pipelines encroach on the wolf’s territory, and interrupt their food supply.
Science website
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA): Essay by L. David Mech
Education website
International Wolf Centre: Arctic Wolf