The underfur is also waterproof because it is oily. Wolves also have another layer of fur called guard hairs. These guard hairs are smooth and hard and they allow wolves to shed dirt and moisture so that ice does not collect on their fur. Wolves can hear a sound in the forest as far as 6 miles away. This is important for them to communicate with other pack members and neighboring packs.
Wolves also have an excellent sense of smell.
They can identify animals from 1.5 miles away. This is important for finding prey and for locating other wolves. Wolves have long legs with large paws. These allow them to run easily through snow and water. The large feet act like snow shoes spreading the wolf's weight out evenly across the snow.