How do wolf react to heat and cold?
Wolves pant to cool themselves when they are too warm, and shiver to help them warm up if they are too cold. The grey wolf (Canis lupus), the species most people think of when they hear the word ‘wolf’, has a vast range, across North America, Europe and Asia. Those in the north of their range, such as Canada, Russia and Norway, have thick fur to help keep them warm. Those in warmer, more southerly areas, such as Mexico and India, have much thinner coats. Northern wolves also tend to be larger than southern ones, since a larger body conserves heat better. The red wolf (Canis rufus) is found only in the south-eastern USA, and the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) only in Ethiopia. Both are considerably smaller than the grey wolf, and both have thinner fur than most grey wolves, since their habitats are generally warm.
