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Wolves do not run at full speed until they get as close to their prey as possible. At that point, they make a high-speed chase to test the animal.

regressed. It is now found up on the middle of the foot and is known as a dew- claw. There are just four toes on each of the hind feet. Each toe pad is surrounded by stiff, bristly hair, which acts as insu- lation and also provides a better grip on slippery ice surfaces. The claws are strong and blunt because the tips are worn off by constant contact with the ground. These are used for digging and in gripping the earth while running, not for seizing prey. Wolves walk, trot, lope, or gallop. Their legs are long, and they walk at about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) per hour. Their usual mode of travel is to trot, which they do at various speeds, generally between 8 to 10 miles (12.8 to 16 kilometers) per hour.

The wolf has five toes on its front foot, but only four toes show in the track. This is because the fifth toe, the dewclaw, has regressed. It has only four toes on its hind foot. The larger track at the bottom of the photo was made by the wolf’s right front foot.

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