So, why are foxes orange? The simplest answer is… For camouflage. The slightly longer answer is due to the following.
The color of a fox’s coat is due to its pigment called melanin. Melanin is brown in nature and is non-refractile, meaning it doesn’t refract light. As a fox’s fur grows the melanin is dispersed throughout. The fur of a fox has two types of melanin Eumelanin and Phaeomelanin. Eumelanin gives a brown color while phaeomelanin gives a red color, between these two pigments they create the orange color of a fox. Depending on the ratio of Eumelanin to Phaeomelanin the orange color of each fox will vary slightly.
Hopefully, this helps clear up why foxes are orange and answer the questions you have.
