White Fang is a wild-born wolfdog—part wolf, part domestic dog—growing up in the unforgiving Yukon Territory. Governed largely by survival instincts, he learns early to endure the brutal realities of nature and fierce competition. As he encounters human society, he constantly balances his wild heritage against the security and demands of domestication. He is observant, highly adaptable, and possesses a profound capacity for physical endurance.

Henry is a hardened traveler struggling against the extreme elements of the Arctic winter. Tasked with delivering a body to a remote town, he faces dwindling resources, intense psychological strain, and the constant threat of a stalking wolf pack. He is pragmatic and resourceful, relying on fire and basic ingenuity to keep himself alive when his physical strength is outmatched by nature.

Kiche, also known as the she-wolf, is a highly intelligent wolfdog who leads a starving wolf pack during the brutal Yukon winter. Having once been domesticated before returning to the wild, she possesses a unique understanding of human camps and dog behavior. She is a fierce, fearless survivor driven by maternal instincts and the immediate need to secure food for herself and her offspring.

Grey Beaver is an Indigenous man who becomes White Fang's first human guardian. He is a pragmatic, strict master who values animals for their utility rather than companionship. Operating within a harsh environment where survival dictates behavior, he trains his dogs with a firm hand, expecting obedience and hard work in exchange for food and protection.

Beauty Smith is a physically unappealing and deeply cruel white man living in Fort Yukon. He views animals entirely as objects for financial exploitation and takes pleasure in their torment. He purchases White Fang to force him into the brutal world of dog fighting, using mockery and physical abuse to intentionally cultivate the wolfdog's viciousness.

Weedon Scott is a wealthy, compassionate man who stands in sharp opposition to the harshness of the Yukon environment. He intervenes to rescue abused animals, demonstrating a deep moral objection to cruelty. Patient and empathetic, he understands that a damaged creature requires gentleness rather than force to rebuild trust.

Bill is a weary traveler struggling through the sub-zero temperatures of the Arctic alongside Henry. He grows increasingly anxious as their resources dwindle and a pack of starving wolves shadows their every move. Protective of their few remaining sled dogs, he is willing to take extreme risks to secure their survival.

One Eye is an older, battle-scarred male wolf who travels with the starving pack at the beginning of the novel. He successfully outfights younger rivals to become Kiche's mate. Despite his fierce independence and aggressive nature, he possesses strong paternal instincts and actively hunts to provide for his new family when they settle in a cave.

Lip-lip is a hostile puppy living in Grey Beaver's camp. Recognizing White Fang's outsider status as a wolfdog, Lip-lip makes it his mission to relentlessly bully and ostracize him. He curries favor with the humans for protection while ensuring the other camp dogs turn against the newcomer.

Mit-sah is Grey Beaver's son, tasked with training the camp's dogs to pull sleds. He manipulates the pack dynamics among the dogs to ensure they run faster, often using Lip-lip as a target for the other dogs' frustrations.

Matt is a friend and assistant to Weedon Scott. He helps manage the logistics of keeping a wild wolfdog, initially viewing the animal with deep suspicion and advising caution. He assists in feeding and retraining the rescued animal for sled work.

Judge Scott is Weedon's father, a prominent legal figure living comfortably in California. He represents the settled, lawful civilization of the Southland, far removed from the lawless Yukon. He harbors private doubts about the safety of keeping a wild wolfdog near his family.

Jim Hall is a hardened criminal who escapes from a nearby prison. Harboring a deep grudge against the justice system, he sets his sights on the judge responsible for his incarceration. Like a captured wild animal, his time in the brutal prison system has warped his fundamental nature into something entirely hostile.

Cherokee is an unusually shaped, low-to-the-ground bulldog used in betting rings. Unlike the aggressive wolves and sled dogs, Cherokee fights with a quiet, methodical grip rather than slashing teeth, making him a deeply confusing opponent for wilder animals.