What Do Foxes Eat When They're Not Raiding Your Garden?

Foxes are opportunistic feeders, which means they eat whatever is available, depending on the season and location.

The average fox in a natural habitat primarily feeds on small mammals like mice, rats, rabbits and squirrels. These wild animals make up a significant part of a fox’s diet, providing protein and energy for survival.

In addition to mammals, foxes hunt birds, frogs and even fish when they gain access to water sources. Some foxes, especially those living near farms, may target chickens if they find an easy opportunity. This is why farmers often work hard to protect their poultry from these cunning predators.

While many people assume that foxes eat only meat, they’re actually omnivores. Along with small mammals, foxes eat a variety of fruit, berries and even insects. In fact, during the spring and summer, insects like beetles and grasshoppers become a major part of their diet.

Foxes will also eat carrion, or dead animals, when fresh prey is scarce. They’ve been known to snack on guinea pigs and small animals pets if they find them outside, which is why it’s always a good idea to keep your own pets safely secured.

However, foxes generally avoid dogs and cats, as these animals can pose a threat to them.

In urban areas, foxes have learned to adapt their diets to human surroundings. They’ll scavenge from trash bins, looking for discarded food scraps and they may even try to feed on pet food left outside.

Some humans even feed foxes, though this is generally a bad idea, as it can encourage them to become dependent on people rather than their natural habitat food sources.

Foxes in cities will still hunt rats, mice and pigeons. They’ll also snack on discarded fruit, berries and even seeds from bird feeders. Their diverse diet allows them to thrive in areas where other wildlife might struggle.

Fox cubs are born blind and rely on their parents for food in the early weeks of life.

By early summer, they begin to explore and eat soft foods that their parents bring them. Fox cubs start with small mammals and gradually move on to larger prey like rabbits and birds as they develop their hunting ability.

As they grow, fox cubs mimic the behaviors of other foxes, learning how to hunt, scavenge and even steal food from other animals (or humans who leave food out). By the time winter rolls around, they’re fully independent and ready to fend for themselves.

While it might seem like a kind act to feed foxes, it’s actually a really bad idea. Wild foxes that become accustomed to humans may lose their natural wariness, leading them into dangerous situations with dogs, cats and even cars.

Encouraging foxes to rely on humans for food can disrupt their natural behaviors and make them more vulnerable to disease, including sarcoptic mange.

Additionally, foxes that regularly visit gardens and homes can leave behind fox scat and fox droppings, which may carry parasites. If you want to help local foxes, the best way is to protect their natural habitat and ensure that their food sources remain intact in the wild.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.