Last updated: July 15, 2024 by the Homemade Gifts Coloring Team
There’s something about the power, mythology, and mystery of wolves that’s just too captivating to look away from. I love wolves, and I’m far from the only one. So many are fascinated by these incredible creatures, from trying to spot them in nature to celebrating them in shirts, stickers, and even coloring pages. That’s why we’ve created these wolf coloring pages for adults, teens, and kids.
Pretty much everyone loves a cool picture of a wolf. That’s why our wolf coloring pages are for everyone. You can let your kids color in cute wolf coloring pages, or try out the realistic ones yourself. We even have kawaii wolf anime girl coloring pages. Simply click on the coloring page or title to download your free, printable wolf coloring page.
Cute Wolf Coloring Pages
Who says a big, bad wolf can’t be cute, too? Not us! We’ve got a whole collection of cute wolf coloring pages.
Realistic Wolf Coloring Pages for Adults
Get in on the fun yourself. These realistic wolf coloring pages are good for adults and older kids.
Wolf Anime Girl Coloring Pages
Wolves appear in anime all the time. These wolf anime girl coloring pages are a super fun addition to your coloring time.
Wolves in Myth and Folklore
We humans like wolves for more than just wolf coloring pages. They appear all over in our mythology, and it’s no wonder why. We’re fascinated by these creatures, and their naturally mysterious aura has given rise to a lot of wolves in myth and folklore in cultures around the world.
Celtic Wolves
The famous Celtic goddess Morrighan sometimes appeared as a wolf in stories and legends. A warrior goddess, her connection with wolves came as no surprise. It could have been a symbol of sovereignty, and who is king of the forest more than a howling gray wolf? It may have also been a symbol of fertility.
She was not the only goddess associated with wolves. The Scottish goddess Cailleach was an old woman who brought the destruction and dark of winter. Sometimes they depicted her riding on a mighty wolf and carrying a hammer. Like wolves, she was a protector of wild things.
Native American Wolf Mythology
Many Native American tribes had myths and legends about forest animals, including wolves. The Cherokee told the story of Dog, who lived on a mountain, and Wolf, who lived near fire. In winter, Dog had to venture near the fire to get warm, and Wolf went to the mountain. Wolf found he liked it on the mountain and stayed there, forming a wolf pack of his own. Dog, in contrast, became mankind’s companion.
Among the Lakota, there was a story of a woman saved by a wolf pack when she got injured while traveling. She learned the ways of the wolves and brought that information back to her people. It was said she could sense an enemy approaching before they appeared.
Japanese Wolf Myths
Sadly, the Japanese wolf is extinct, but that doesn’t mean the Japanese lack myth and folklore about wolves. They say, for example, that wolves can hide behind a single reed of grass, become invisible, or shift into the shape of a sparrow. So maybe they’re not extinct after all.
In Japanese mythology, wolves are also the guardians of the mountains and personification of the wilderness. Some would leave out offerings of food for wolves. There’s even a story of a village that saved an injured wolf and received a deer from the wolf as a token of gratitude.
Wolves and the Full Moon
Do wolves actually howl at a full moon? Yes! In fact, there is a specific moon known as the wolf moon, and many believe it’s named that way because of wolves howling at the moon in mid-winter (the wolf moon is a full moon in January).
However, the moon doesn’t need to be full to produce wolf howling. A wolf pack will howl at any moon, full moon or not. According to experts, they simply howl because they’re excited and happy, not because of any mystical connection to the moon.
Wolf Misconceptions
There are many myths about wolves, which means there are many misconceptions, too. Wolves have been mischaracterized as monsters in a lot of popular mythology. This has done a ton of harm to wolf packs and resulted in the extermination of many wolves. Not to mention, this image of wolves as monsters is still prevalent today. In reality, wolves tend to avoid people.
The popular idea of the “alpha” wolf also turns out to be a myth. Biologists have dropped the term. Researchers say most wolf packs are just families of wolves led by a breeding pair. It might sound macho and cool, but in reality, most wolves aren’t having bloody duels for dominance.
Dog Coloring Pages
If you’re looking for more canine coloring pages and free printables, take a peek at our collection of dog coloring sheets for cute dog and puppy pictures to color in.
More Free Printable Coloring Pages
Ready to print out more fabulous coloring pages? Check out our full collection of over 3,000 coloring sheets here. We think you’ll particularly enjoy these coloring page collections:
Animal Coloring Pages
Cat Coloring Pages
Bunny Coloring Pages
Kitten Coloring Pages
Unicorn Coloring Pages
Dinosaur Coloring Pages
Shark Coloring Pages
Planet Coloring Pages
Coloring Sheets for Kindergartners
Cute Coloring Pages for Kids
