There are several species of animals that are commonly known as foxes. Thus we have the members of the genera Lycalopex, Urocyon, Cerdocyon and Otocyon. However, true foxes belong to the genus Vulpes, a term that means fox in Latin. Within these, 12 species are recognized, which, although they have characteristics that they share with other canids, differ particularly in their smaller sizes.
Foxes are widespread in a variety of ecosystems, some even present in urban areas. Therefore, from our site we want to present you with information specifically about what foxes eat, without a doubt, one of the most particular aspects of this group; so go ahead and read on.
Type of feeding of the foxes
These canids, like the rest, are included in the order of carnivores, however, they do not follow a diet strictly of this kind, as you might think. Due to their varied consumption of various food sources, foxes are truly omnivorous animals
In this sense, foxes are truly opportunistic animals and, depending on the time of year, they can gradually adapt to the available food. In this way, and in general, they include in their diet an important variety of small animals, which can be both vertebrates and invertebrates, in addition to:
- Carrion
- Eggs
- Fruits
- Berries
- Seeds
- Sheets
- Estate
Do foxes eat grass?
As we have mentioned, foxes have a varied diet and, in certain cases, among the foods of plant origin that they consume include grasses Such is the case of two species of types of foxes that do it in a particular way, such as:
- The swift fox (Vulpes velox).
- The fennec fox (Vulpes zerda).
But in general, foxes don't just consume grasses, they also opt for various parts of different types of plants, depending on the availability of the habitat.
Discover other omnivorous animals: more than 40 examples and curiosities in the following article on our site that we suggest.
What do little foxes eat?
These are mammalian animals so, at birth, they depend on the female to nurse them. Although there may be some variation by species, puppy weaning occurs around 12 weeks. Then, the male, who usually brings food to the female while she stays in the burrow, guarding the little ones, begins to share it with them.
Later, the family outings from the den begin and the parents begin to teach the young how to hunt, so that they can then support themselves for themselves. In this way, the little foxes are started, in order:
- The first 12 weeks: only consuming breast milk.
- After weaning: from animal and vegetable remains brought by the father.
- When they come out of their burrow: They start hunting for their own food.
What do adult foxes eat?
The diet of the fox, as we said, is omnivorous, that is, includes animals and vegetables However, depending on the species, some particular type may be favored, which to a greater extent has to do with availability, depending on the ecosystem and the time of year. In this way, let us know below what adult foxes preferentially eat, depending on the species:
Pale Fox (V. pallida)
In the case of the pale fox (V. pallida), it is dedicated to consuming:
- Rodents
- Small reptiles
- Birds
- Insects
- Eggs
- Fruits (wild melons)
Corsac fox (V. corsac)
The basic diet of the corsac fox type (V. corsac) is based on feeding on the following foods.
- Rodents
- Pikas
- Insects
- Plant matter
Arctic Fox (V. lagopus)
Now, what does the Arctic fox (V. lagopus) eat? His diet is based on:
- Small mammals
- Insects
- Seals
- Birds
- Fishes
- Carrion
- Stool
- Berries
Cape fox (V. chama)
In the case of the cape fox (V. chama), it is dedicated to consuming:
- Small rodents
- Rabbits
- Livestock
- Insect larvae
- Small reptiles
- Beetles
- Carrion
Tibetan Fox (V. ferrilata)
The basic diet of the Tibetan type of fox (V. ferrilata) is based on feeding on the following foods.
- Rabbits
- Hares
- Birds
- Pika
Blanford's fox (V. cana)
What does the blanford's fox (V. cana) eat? Their diet is based on foods such as:
- Beetles
- Lobsters
- Grasshopper
- Ants
- Termites
- Fruits: melons, olives, grapes
- Gramineae
Swift Fox (V. velox)
In the case of the swift fox (V. velox), it is dedicated to consuming:
- Small Mammals
- Birds
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Fishes
- Insects
- Berries
- Pastures
Bengal fox (V. bengalensis)
Now, what does the Bengal fox (V. bengalensis) eat? His diet is based on:
- Insects
- Spiders
- Birds
- Eggs
- Little rodents
- Reptiles
- Hedgehogs
- Fruits
Rüppel's fox (V. rueppellii)
What does the Rüppel's fox (V. rueppellii) eat? Their diet is based on foods such as:
- Insects
- Small Mammals
- Eggs
- Reptiles
- Estate
- Tubers
Red fox (V. vulpes)
The diet of the red fox (V. vulpes) consists of:
- Rodents
- Rabbits
- Insects
- Carrion
Fennec Fox (V. zerda)
What do fennec foxes (V. zerda) eat? Your diet includes foods like:
- Small rodents
- Birds
- Lizards
- Insects
- Fruits
- Sheets
- Estate
Kit Fox (V. macrotis)
Finally, regarding the kit fox (V. macrotis), we find that it feeds on:
- Rabbits
- Prairy Dogs
- Kangaroo Rats
- Hares
- Insects
- Lizards
- Birds
- Carrion
- Tomatoes
- Cactus Fruits
A curious aspect in foxes is that several species, such as the arctic fox, cape fox and red fox, among others, they have a habit of storing food when there is enough availability.
In this way, they look for places where they hide food not only from other species but even eventually from membersof their own family They have the facility to move the stored food, and they come back for it in later days.
How foxes hunt
Foxes can exhibit different ways of hunting their prey. However, these canids have a peculiar way of hunting rodents, which consists of jumping and falling on the prey, so that it remains immobilized.
To locate their prey they usually use their ears, which are sensitive to the slight sounds that these small mammals emit when walking. This hunting technique used by foxes is learned from youth and it minimizes energy expenditure, as well as the confrontation with the other animal.
Those who live in areas where there are seasons with winters, group in packs to hunt cooperatively. In some cases, several adults surround the prey until they capture it. Also, it is common that when a pair of foxes hunt they share all the food they get. On the other hand, in species such as the blanford fox it is also common for to hunt alone
These animals establish hierarchies to feed themselves from an early age, so that the most agile and strong manage to take better advantage of the resources. But the competition between them is not something really very marked, since being such generalist animals in their way of feeding, they manage to take advantage of various resources as nutritional sources.
