Coat
Wolves' fur is many different colors. Even a wolf that generally appears gray really has a coat of many colors. White, black, gray, and brown hairs are intermingled, with darker fur usually predominating along the center of the back and tail. The wolf's underside, ®legs¯, ®ears¯, and muzzle are often tawny. Very old wolves tend to be grayer than younger ones.
The wolf has a double coat of fur and actually has three capes. Long guard hairs on top, which can be as long as four inches, work like an umbrella to help shed moisture like a raincoat. Their underfur keeps the wolf warm in the cold months and the wolf sheds the undercoat in the summer. This is particularly useful in locations such as the Mexican desert where the wolf can withstand temperatures from -60 degrees to 115 degrees. That's a difference of 175 degrees!
The colors of a wolf's fur can make it hard to see in its natural habitat. The colors of the fur may blend in with background colors in the habitat and cause a wolf to "disappear." Wolves that spend a lot of time in dark forests often have dark fur. In places where the plants are many different colors, the fur of the wolves is often many different colors.
The wolf's mask is made to draw attention to the ®eyes¯ since eye contact is so important with the wolf. The way the fur falls around the ®eyes¯ accents the eyes, making them look much larger than they are. The ®ears¯ are also highlighted to be seen against a dark or light background. The edge of the wolf's ®ears¯ are usually highlighted for contrast against dark, and the inside of the wolf's ®ears¯ are dark for contrast against light.
