In extreme cold the wolf can reduce the flow of blood near it's skin to conserve heat. When in contact with ice or snow, the temperature of the wolf's footpads remain at just above the tissue freezing point. The wolf's ability to regulate it's body temperature has helped it to survive in a wide variety of climates. The wolf's front feet are much larger and a great advantage when running upon snow. It allows greater weight distribution and more support to prevent the wolf from sinking in as deeply, when the snow is soft.
Wolves are social animals of the first order.
The presence of an understood hierarchy serves the crutial purpose of elimating conflict. This usually consists of a pack of five to ten wolves. The pack has a defined social structure, one that enhances their survival by collective hunting and population control. This hierarchy is subject to change, especially during breeding season. Wolves breed once yearly, in February or March and four to six pups are born, sixty three days later.