Carnegie Museum of Natural History

One of the Four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

Age of Mammals: The Cenozoic Era

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Dire Wolves Off the Screen

Dire Wolf Skeleton

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!

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Ireland in the Ice Age

Megaloceros giganteus in museum
Long before St. Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland, the Megaloceros giganteus strutted across the Emerald Isle during the Ice Age sporting antlers that weighed as much as 100 pounds and spanned up to 12 feet. Also known as Irish elk, Megaloceros giganteus were about 7-feet tall at the shoulder and the largest known deer that ever lived.

The species is thought to have lived throughout Eurasia, but the best documented remains are found in Irish peat bogs.

Our specimen was found in peat bog near Dublin, Ireland and is on display in Cenozoic Hall.