There are five toes on a wolf's front paws and only four on the rear paws. Their paws can be up to 5 1/4" long. Thick, rugged, and blocky when the toes are together, the foot can also sprawl, allowing the toes to grasp rocks, logs, and other uneven or steep surfaces. When walking, the wolf holds its foot in the blocky fashion, reducing area and friction. However, during tricky maneuvering, the toes can spread far apart, much increasing the surface and friction. In order to walk better in the snow, one wolf will make the initial trail and all other wolves will follow by stepping in the original footprints. Wolves run on their toes. This lengthens their legs and makes it possible for them to run faster - up to 40 miles per hour, in fact.
