Learn about the arctic fox's special winter and summer coats and how molting helps them stay warm or cool in different seasons!
The arctic fox is a special animal that lives in very cold places called the Arctic. It has a thick, fluffy coat made of fur that changes color and thickness depending on the season.
In the winter, the arctic fox's fur turns white and becomes very thick and soft. This white winter coat helps the fox blend in with the snowy ground, so predators don't see it easily, and it also keeps the fox warm in the freezing cold.
When the weather gets warmer in the spring and summer, the arctic fox needs a cooler coat. So, it goes through something called molting. Molting is when the fox loses its thick white fur and grows a shorter, thinner coat that is usually brown or gray. This summer coat helps the fox stay cool and also blend in with the rocks and plants around it.
So, the arctic fox changes its coat twice each year — from a thick white winter coat to a thinner brown or gray summer coat — to help it live comfortably in the cold winter and the warmer summer.