![]() ![]() Most gray wolves turn white because of old age and not because of cold. Several studies have shown that not many gray wolves will turn white at all, and those that do, will turn white because of other factors. It has long been believed that wolves turn white because of the cold, but that’s not true. Instead of turning white, other changes to the fur will happen, as it will get thicker and denser which will allow the wolf to survive colder temperatures. Wolves don’t turn white in the winter, but they will sometimes turn white or change the color of their fur due to old age or stress. Read More: Do Old Wolves get Hip Dysplasia? Do Wolves Turn White in the Winter? Some will just become white because of their genetic material, and perhaps earlier than other wolves that might not turn white at all. Think of it like this: some humans turn white later than others – and it’s the same with wolves. Lastly, genetics can also play a part in this. However, one of the biggest factors here is that not many wolves reach the age when this happens, which is at about 8-10 years old. Old age is also another factor that might speed up the process of wolves changing their fur color, which normally fades into lighter colors as they get older. It has been discovered recently that many of those wolves have had injuries or prior trauma, so those factors can play an important role in wolves changing their color. In the early 1900s, nearly a third of gray wolves turned white in the continental USA, which is a phenomenon that many scientists are still examining. Males, especially alphas, undergo a lot of stress in their lives because they’re constantly challenged both by the environment and by other males that might threaten its existence. Stress is perhaps the biggest factor why wolves change color. ![]() When wolves change the color of their fur, there are typically three main reasons for it:Ĭontrary to some opinions by people on forums, wolves will not change their color when winter comes around, which is typical of arctic foxes, for example. Conclusion Why Do Wolves Change Their Color? ![]()
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