artic wolves

Wolves


	The arctic wolf has the shoulder high of 25 to 31 inches on average; they are about 3 feet tall from head to toe. Their body length may vary from three to five feet (nose to tail). Their colors may range from red, gray, white and black. The approximate weight of a full grown male is 175 pounds. In captivity an Artic Wolf can live to be 17 years old. However, the average lifespan in the wild is 7 years.

	Artic Wolves are able to tolerate years of sub-zero temperatures, up to five months of darkness per year and weeks with out food, the Artic Wolf lives in one of the few place on earth were it is safe from the greatest threat of all man. Artic Wolves in habit some of the most inhospitable territories in the world. In April the air temperature rarely raises above 22 degrees. The ground is permanently frozen. The Artic Wolf is one of the few mammals that can tolerate these conditions.


	The Artic Wolf packs size varies. Most have 6-7 members, although some may include as many as 15 wolves. The size depends on many variables including the current numbers of the wolf population, the abundance of food and the source factors within the wolf pack.

The Artic Wolf preys on Lemmings and Artic Hares, but its most substantial source of food is Musk Oxen and Caribou. Because of the scarcity of grazing plants, animals must roam a large area to find enough food to survive. They will kill virtually any animal they can catch, and eat every part of it including the skin, fur and the bones. Artic Wolf packs can range up to 800 square miles in search of prey. The Caribou or Musk Oxen are to powerful for any one wolf to take on alone. By the time pack approaches a herd of Musk Oxen out in the open the chance of a surprise attack is rare. The herd has already formed a defense circle with the calves in the center. The wolves must then crowd around the herd forcing the oxen to shift their grounds to face them. If the wolves are successful the oxen will scatter. The wolves will then go chase them trying to isolate the young or weak. When caught, the Musk Oxen will provide enough food to last the wolf pack several days.

The Artic Wolves body language, tell other animals and people what their moods are.

Anger-An angry lupine’s ears are erect, and the in visors are displayed. The wolf may also arch its back, lash out or snarl.

Fear-A freighted wolf tries to make its body look small and there fore less conspicuous. The ears flatten down against the head. The tail may be tucked between the legs, as with a submissive wolf. There may also be whimpering or barking of fear, and the wolf may arch its back.

Relaxedness-A relaxed wolf’s tail points straight down, and the wolf may rest sphinx- like or on its side. The wolf may also wag its tail. The further down the tail is the more relax the wolf is.

Happiness- As dogs do a lupine may wag its tail if it is in a joyful mood. The tongue may loll out of the of the mouth.

Playfulness-A playful lupine holds its tail high and wags it. The wolf may frolic and dance around, or bow by placing the front of its body down to the ground, while holding the rear high, sometimes wagged. This is reminiscent of the playful behavior demonstrated by domestic dogs.