Despite being extinct, dire wolves are having a comeback thanks to the HBO series “Game of Thrones,” where they protect members of the Stark family.
Unlike dragons and black magic, dire wolves actually did exist. They lived in North America 250,000 to 13,000 years ago during the Ice Age. They had massive jaws and teeth, traveled in packs, and were the heaviest of all known wolves. They are only distantly related to the wolves that Ice Age humans began to domesticate and breed for hunting and defense between 40,000 and 20,000 years ago.
Paleontologists can’t say how dire wolves would have fared against White Walkers, but can at least confirm that they were a predator to be reckoned with in their day!
