Dire wolves were prehistoric predators bigger than today's wolves, with stronger jaws and thick bodies built for hunting Ice Age megafauna.

These pack hunters roamed North and South America 125,000-9,500 years ago, preying on bison, horses, and even sick mammoths.

Real dire wolves didn't live with humans or grow giant like in fantasy - but were just as fascinating!

Climate change and disappearing large prey doomed dire wolves when the Ice Age ended, while smaller gray wolves survived.

Extinct but unforgettable. Dire wolves star in shows and science, teaching us about Ice Age life. Fun fact: They were cousins to modern wolves, not direct ancestors!