A Playful Pause

Nunavut

It was an incredible and relatable moment to “human’s best friend” as this wolf approached me playfully, mere feet from my wide-angle lens. As I and my group observed these wolves, first in the distance, I knew a close encounter was possible, given this species’ behaviour. The wolves walked toward us, the sunburst behind this wolf enhancing this once-in-a-lifetime moment. The wolf playfully rolled over, scratched its back in the snow, and eventually presented this downward dog “Playful Pause”. This was one of the first days with Arctic wolves, and the image became so relatable to me and my busy life. We all need a ‘playful pause’ in nature and in our lives to maintain health and balance!

It was a great honour to travel 80 degrees north to experience this subspecies of the grey wolf, known for its white fur and adaptations to Arctic environments. They have shorter muzzles and ears, long legs, and broad paws suited for snow, along with a thick, insulating coat for survival in their harsh climate. The Arctic wolves on Ellesmere Island have had very little contact with humans, so they have little knowledge of or predetermined intuition about humans.

In many parts of the world, wolves are regarded as fearful and dangerous predators. But at heart, wolves have a playful side just like dogs, which is understandable. Historically, humans and wolves coexisted. Early interactions likely involved hunter-gatherers and wolves forming a commensal relationship, where wolves consumed human hunting leftovers, leading to domestication and the development of dogs.

Limited Edition 8" x 10" and larger to 900

Conservation Edition 30” x 40” to 25