Foxes are highly adaptable predators found across diverse landscapes worldwide, from remote wilderness to urban environments. Their ability to thrive stems from a flexible diet and hunting strategies, allowing them to adjust feeding habits based on available food sources.
Primary Prey
Foxes primarily hunt small mammals, often accounting for about 50% of their diet in rural areas. This includes rodents like mice, voles, and rats, and lagomorphs such as rabbits and hares. These prey animals are common targets due to their widespread abundance and relative ease of capture. Foxes also prey on various bird species, with ground-nesting birds being particularly susceptible during spring and early summer when raising young. Amphibians like frogs and reptiles such as small snakes and lizards are also sometimes taken, contributing to their diverse intake.
Opportunistic Foraging and Scavenging
Foxes are highly opportunistic omnivores, supplementing their diet with a wide array of other available food sources. Insects, including crickets, beetles, worms, and grasshoppers, are a notable part of their diet, particularly for urban populations. Plant matter, especially fruits and berries like blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and apples, are important seasonal additions, particularly abundant in autumn. Foxes also readily consume carrion, such as roadkill or remains from larger predators. In areas with human presence, they frequently scavenge human-derived food waste from bins and outdoor pet food, showcasing their adaptability to modified environments.
Hunting Techniques
Foxes employ acute senses and specialized behaviors to locate and capture prey. Their dominant sense for hunting is smell, followed by highly developed hearing that allows them to pinpoint prey movement even under snow or dense vegetation. While sight is less developed, they are sensitive to movement, aiding the final stages of a hunt.
A characteristic hunting behavior for small prey is the “mousing pounce,” where a fox listens intently, cocks its head, and leaps high before pouncing downwards to pin its target. For prey hidden beneath snow, some research suggests foxes may utilize the Earth’s magnetic field to accurately gauge distance, often orienting their jumps towards the northeast for increased success. Foxes typically hunt alone, relying on stealth and quick bursts of agility to secure their meals.
Interactions with Domestic Animals
While wild prey constitutes the majority of a fox’s diet, their opportunistic nature means they may target vulnerable domestic animals. Chickens and other small poultry are common targets if coops are not adequately secured. Small outdoor pets, especially if unsupervised, can also be at risk. This behavior often occurs when natural prey is scarce or when a vixen needs to feed a litter of cubs, driving them to seek easier food sources.
When foxes access coops, they may kill multiple birds, though they typically only carry one away. They are adept at finding entry points, capable of jumping over fences up to 6 feet high and digging under barriers. To prevent such incidents, securing chicken coops with sturdy fencing buried several inches into the ground or using electric fencing can deter foxes. Supervising small pets outdoors, particularly during dawn and dusk when foxes are most active, can also help mitigate potential risks.