The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a remarkably adaptable animal, and its success across diverse global habitats is linked to its highly flexible eating habits. Classified as an opportunistic omnivore, it consumes a wide variety of food sources depending on what is available. This dietary flexibility allows the fox to thrive in environments ranging from dense forests to agricultural fields and major metropolitan areas. By regulating populations of smaller animals and contributing to seed dispersal, the fox occupies an important position in its local ecosystem.
Primary Animal Prey
The core of the fox’s diet consists of live animal prey, providing the necessary protein and calories for survival. Small mammals form the backbone of this carnivorous intake, with rodents such as voles, mice, and shrews being frequently targeted. Lagomorphs, including young rabbits and hares, are a staple, offering a more substantial meal when successfully captured. A single fox can consume approximately one to two pounds of food each day, often caching surplus prey under leaves or snow for later retrieval.
The characteristic hunting technique for small mammals is the “mousing pounce,” involving a freeze, intense listening, and a high vertical leap. Using acute hearing, foxes pinpoint the location of a rodent moving beneath grass or snow, then spring high into the air to pin the prey. Beyond mammals, foxes actively hunt ground-nesting birds and raid nests for eggs or nestlings, contributing to a diverse protein source. Invertebrates constitute a significant part of the diet during warmer months, including insects like beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and earthworms.
Seasonal Foraging and Plant Matter
While the fox is an adept hunter, it readily supplements its diet with non-prey items and scavenging, habits that change with the seasons. Plant-based foods become important from late summer into autumn when berries, fruits, and seeds are abundant. The fox consumes items such as raspberries, wild strawberries, apples, grapes, and nuts, which offer carbohydrates and moisture. This consumption also benefits the ecosystem, as foxes aid in seed dispersal through their scat.
Scavenging is a necessary element of the opportunistic feeding strategy, especially during winter when live prey is harder to find. Foxes consume carrion, such as roadkill or the remains of ungulates left by larger predators. During snow-free seasons, the diet may shift toward insects and plant matter, while cached prey and carrion sustain the fox through periods of scarcity.
Adapting the Diet: Urban vs. Rural Habitats
The specific composition of a fox’s diet is heavily influenced by its immediate environment, showing a marked difference between rural and urban populations. Rural foxes maintain a broader and more varied diet, relying on a diverse mix of natural prey, including rodents, wild birds, and plant forage. Studies confirm this wide dietary niche in wilder settings, where the availability of different food types is varied.
In contrast, the diet of urban and suburban foxes shifts significantly toward human-provided food sources. For urban populations, anthropogenic food—items provided directly or indirectly by people—can constitute an estimated 35% of the total diet, compared to only about 6% for rural foxes. This food includes discarded scraps from trash, spilled bird seed, compost, and outdoor pet food. The ready availability of these resources leads to a narrower dietary range among urban foxes, as they specialize in easily accessible, high-calorie human waste rather than actively hunting wild prey.