Foxes are very adaptable mammals and are just as at home on our city streets as they are in our woodlands and countryside. So, within these dramatically different habitats, what do foxes eat?
Foxes are skilled hunters with a very diverse diet. They hunt live prey but will also eat carrion. The Woodland Trust describes them as "opportunistic omnivores". This trait "allows them to survive in a wide range of habitats."
What do rural foxes eat?
Foxes sit at the top of the woodland food chain as one of the largest mammals, alongside deer and badgers. In a thriving woodland habitat, the majority of a fox's diet is satisfied by hunting live prey.
Their meat-based woodland diet consists of rabbits, rodents, birds and invertebrates. It has not been unknown for a larger fox to prey on something as big as a deer fawn.
Foxes do go vegetarian too, enjoying fruit and berries when in season.
The number of foxes competing for food in one area is dependant on how plentiful the resources are. The Woodland Trust states that, "in upland Scotland, where food is much harder to come by, a territory could be as large as 4,000 hectares."
What to urban foxes eat?
Urban foxes still hunt live prey on the streets of our towns and cities, including rodents and pigeons, but the majority of their diet comes from food discarded by humans.
Food is plentiful for foxes in urban settings as households, shops and restaurants all provide a source of food waste which can become their meals. In comparison to a 4,000 hectare territory for a fox in Scotland, a city fox only inhabits 25 hectares of land. That smaller area can provide them with more than enough nourishment, according to the Woodland Trust.
Urban foxes are well accustomed to living closer to humans and have become brazen in their efforts to rummage through our bins.
Is it a good idea to attract foxes into your garden?
Due to foxes' opportunistic nature and eating whatever they come across, many people do not want to welcome foxes into their gardens. They might have a go at any outdoor bins you have or a nibble around your vegetable patch – which might not be ideal.
If you keep chickens, hens or rabbits outside, they could be at risk if a fox comes into your garden.
Foxes also leave their droppings in people's gardens which, other than being unsightly, can be toxic if eaten by dogs if the fox carries parasites.
What food should you put out for foxes in your garden?
If you do welcome all and any wildlife into your garden, the best way to feed a fox is to replicate their natural diet. A fox would welcome cooked or raw meat and tinned dog food, as well as snacks like unsalted peanuts, fruit and cheese.
You can buy specially made fox and badger food – like this bag of WildWood Badger & Fox Food, for £6.99 – but it isn't always necessary because, as we've mentioned above, foxes are not fussy.
How regularly do foxes eat?
It is thought that foxes need to eat around 500 grams of food a day but this can vary depending on who energy-rich their meals are. Is they have a highly nutritious meal then they might be able to survive on less but a lunch in bin scraps might leave them needed to top up their resources.
How many foxes are there in the UK?
The number of foxes in the UK isn't officially recorded. A 2013 report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) estimates that there are around 430,000 foxes in the UK. This equates to roughly one fox for every 150 people.
The Natural History Museum websites states: "The number of foxes living across the UK isn't officially recorded, however a 2013 report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) estimates that there are around 430,000 - roughly one fox for every 150 people in the UK.
"The number in urban areas is thought to have increased from 33,000 in 1995 to 150,000 in 2017. However, in 2018 there was a 42% decline in red foxes in Britain, although the cause is unknown."
What sound do foxes make?
Foxes are notorious for their high pitched screech and howl sounds when they are mating, which is often at night. In addition, they also produce a bark. It's much higher pitched than a dog's bark due to their smaller size.
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