Foxes are highly adaptable predators with a wide-ranging and opportunistic diet. Their ability to thrive in diverse environments, from rural to urban settings, is due to their flexible eating habits. This article explores the role of moles in a fox’s diet, their hunting methods, and the broader array of foods that sustain these animals.
Moles in the Fox Diet
Foxes do eat moles, though they typically constitute a smaller portion of their diet compared to other prey. Moles are a viable food source, especially when more common prey like voles, mice, or rabbits are less abundant. While moles offer nutritional value, they possess musky scent glands that can make them less palatable to foxes, and some studies suggest foxes may catch and even cache moles without consuming them.
Despite this, moles are still part of the diet, particularly because they are accessible underground. Foxes are known to dig them out, suggesting that the effort to capture them outweighs the potential distastefulness, especially if other food sources are scarce. The nutritional content of moles provides proteins and fats, contributing to a fox’s energy requirements, which are around 500 calories per night for an average fox.
How Foxes Hunt Moles
Foxes possess specialized senses and hunting techniques to locate and capture moles, even when hidden beneath the surface. Their acute hearing is particularly important, allowing them to detect the subtle movements of moles in their shallow tunnels underground.
Once a fox pinpoints a mole’s location, it often employs a characteristic “mousing pounce.” This involves the fox listening intently, then leaping high into the air and bringing its forelimbs down forcefully to pin the prey to the ground. This pouncing technique is effective for collapsing underground galleries where moles or other small rodents might be resting. If the mole is deeper, foxes will dig them out, showcasing their adaptability in accessing subterranean prey.
A Fox’s Varied Diet
Beyond moles, a fox’s diet is remarkably diverse, reflecting its opportunistic nature as a generalist predator. Small mammals, such as mice, voles, and rabbits, form a substantial portion of their diet, often accounting for about 50% in rural areas. They also frequently consume birds and their eggs, insects, and invertebrates such as earthworms. Earthworms can even constitute a significant part of their caloric intake during certain months.
Fruits and berries are also important, especially in autumn. Foxes are known to eat a variety of plant material. Additionally, they are scavengers, readily consuming carrion, which can be a significant food source, particularly in colder seasons or urban environments where human food waste is available. This broad dietary spectrum allows foxes to adapt to seasonal changes and local food availability, ensuring their survival across different habitats.