What Do Foxes Eat?

Foxes belonging to the genus Vulpes, or true foxes, may appear adorable and soft, but they are skilled survivors known for their remarkable adaptability to nearly any environment. This trait has earned them a reputation for being clever and resourceful across various cultures. Some foxes are so adept that they can “play dead” when frightened or to escape from fur trappers. Their incredible adaptability allows them to inhabit diverse regions and climates worldwide, including the Arctic tundra.

What contributes to the resilience of foxes? While their small, agile bodies help them evade predators, and their thick fur and bushy tails provide insulation and balance, their dietary habits and eating patterns play a significant role in their ability to thrive in almost any environment.

The Dietary Patterns of Foxes

What do foxes eat? In short, almost anything. These omnivores enjoy a varied diet that includes grains, fruits such as berries, apples, and plums, as well as invertebrates like worms, crickets, moths, and beetles. They are also skilled hunters and scavengers, preying on small animals like rodents, squirrels, woodchucks, and rabbits. On occasion, they hunt frogs and small snakes, and they are known to steal eggs, primarily from birds but sometimes from reptiles. Foxes also consume carrion when available.

These clever mammals require 1 to 2 pounds of food daily [PDF] to sustain their body weight and energy levels. With numerous fox species—such as Pampas foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus), Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and more—let’s focus on the dietary habits of the most widespread species, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), throughout the year.

What Do Red Foxes Eat?

Red foxes inhabit nearly every continent on Earth. Measuring between 36 to 42 inches in length, most adults weigh between 10 to 15 pounds and thrive in diverse environments. They are commonly found in deserts, wooded areas, farmlands, and even urban and suburban settings.

As expected, red foxes consume a wide variety of foods, with a particular fondness for rodents and rabbits. However, they are opportunistic eaters and won’t hesitate to feast on birds, eggs, sunflower seeds, grass, or even domestic poultry (reminiscent of The Fantastic Mr. Fox). Surprisingly, even porcupines can become prey if a fox is determined enough. With their sharp senses of smell and hearing, red foxes can detect prey from 100 feet away and will dig through snow or soil to uncover hidden meals.

Do Rural Foxes’ Diets Change with the Seasons?

A rural fox’s diet changes with the seasons, focusing heavily on protein during winter when ice and snow hinder foraging for plants. As skilled hunters, they primarily target smaller animals like rabbits, birds, and occasionally deer fawns.

As spring arrives and the ground thaws, foxes shift to hunting mice and rats. They may even venture into shallow waters to catch fish and crabs. During summer, foxes consume large quantities of insects, such as beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, to build up fat reserves for winter. Amphibians like newts and small frogs also become part of their diet.

In autumn, foxes rely more on fruits and vegetables, including berries, potatoes, apples, and acorns, which are abundant and in season. They continue to hunt small animals throughout the year to supplement their diet.

What Do Urban Foxes Eat?

Urban foxes, in contrast, have a slightly altered diet. While they continue to hunt small animals like rodents and pigeons (which are plentiful in cities such as New York), they primarily rely on scavenging food waste for survival.

With an abundance of discarded food from households and restaurants, urban foxes have access to an endless supply of meals. They scavenge through trash cans and dumpsters, feasting on leftovers like half-eaten apples, corn cobs, burgers, fries, and other food scraps. They may also dig into lawns or grassy areas in search of earthworms. Bold and resourceful, urban foxes have even been known to consume pet food and snacks left outside for delivery personnel.