The mackenzie valley wolf is the biggest wolf breed in the world and is native to the northwest region of North America. This apex predator has the ability to kill prey twice its size and is often found hunting large game like bison, moose, and elk. They are a pack-oriented species meaning they hunt and live in groups of 6 to 12 wolves. These animals are selective hunters, meaning they only eat what is surplus and don’t hunt for the pure pleasure of it (like some domesticated dogs).
The northwest wolf, also known as the Alaskan or Canadian timber wolf and the northern timber wolf is a subspecies of gray wolf Canis lupus occidentalis. It is arguably the largest grey wolf subspecies in the world. It is found in Alaska, the Mackenzie River Valley, and western Canada aside from prairie landscapes.
Arctic Majesty: The Enigmatic World of the Mackenzie Valley Wolf
Their thick, elongated limbs are well suited for traversing coarse landscapes such as snow areas and the rugged mountains of western Alaska. Their body has a deep chest that hosts large lungs, allowing them to breathe at higher altitudes and exert enormous stamina for traveling up to 70 miles in one day.
They prey on a variety of animals including mountain goats, Dall sheep, caribou, Sitka black-tailed deer, musk oxen, snowshoe hares, and beavers. They have a reputation of being able to take down large game such as bison, moose, and grizzly bears. However, these animals are not safe from other wolves, and they must carefully negotiate a territory shared with grizzly bears, coyotes, scavengers, and even humans.
