Hobbies And Interests
Background
A tundra is ground that is frozen at least four to five inches below the surface. Typically, no grass or vegetation grows in the tundra because of this snow-covered surface. The winter has almost 24 hours of darkness while the summer has nearly 24 hours of daylight. The Alaskan tundra is the area in Alaska that is part of the Arctic Circle. It is the northern-most area of Alaska that is home to such cities as Barrow and Prudhoe Bay.
Vegetation
The northern coast of the Alaskan tundra is completely treeless. Southern and moist areas of the tundra contain little vegetation. Grasses, moss and low-lying shrubs survive in these areas. The nearly constant sunlight in the summer months cause explosive plant growth in the moist Alaskan tundra areas. These southern tundra areas are where the tundra wolves create their dens for their babies, where good water sources and prey are vital to survival.
Animals
The animals that live in the Alaskan tundra with the wolves are the polar bear, moose, arctic fox, and caribou. Caribou is the primary prey of the Alaskan Tundra Wolf and there are approximately 500,000 caribou in Alaska, according to the National Park Service. Wolves follow the migratory pattern of these herds though they tend to stay within an area of 200 to 600 square miles. Other animals include tundra bumble bees and Alaska blackfish.
Adaptions
To live in this harsh environment, the Alaskan Tundra Wolves have adapted. They have two coats of fur to give them insulation from the cold. They have large feet to give them "snowshoes" in the snow. They live in packs so members help each other in hunting large prey. Packs typically have an alpha male and female that dominate the pack.Their coat is white or cream-colored with dark patches so they can blend in with their snowy habitats.