What color is an Arctic fox's winter coat?

An Arctic fox's winter coat is white.

The white winter pelage provides camouflage against snow and sea ice, helping the fox approach prey and avoid larger predators. In summer, most Arctic foxes replace it with a brown or gray coat that blends into tundra vegetation and exposed soil.

This seasonal color change is produced by molting rather than by the fox changing the color of individual hairs. The winter coat is also exceptionally dense, including fur on the soles of the feet. That insulation allows the species to remain active in severe cold.

Not every Arctic fox looks exactly the same: a darker “blue” color morph retains gray-blue or charcoal coloration year-round. This is a natural form, not a separate species. Arctic foxes eat lemmings, birds, eggs, carrion, and marine food, and they often follow polar bears to scavenge remains from seals.