What Do Foxes Eat?

Small rodents form the foundation of a fox diet throughout the year. Mice and voles are the most frequently eaten prey, making up a large percentage of all kills. These small mammals are abundant in most habitats where foxes live, providing a reliable food source. Eastern chipmunks and ground squirrels are also common prey when available. Squirrels, including eastern gray squirrels and fox squirrels, are eaten when foxes can catch them, though squirrels are more agile and harder to secure. Rabbits and hares, particularly eastern cottontails, are valuable prey for foxes. A single rabbit provides more food than dozens of mice, making them an important part of the diet. Young rabbits are easier to catch than adults. Rats, including brown rats and black rats, are eaten when available, especially in agricultural and urban areas. Birds are consumed regularly, including blue jays and other medium-sized species. Insects like grasshoppers and crickets are eaten seasonally. Berries and fruit, including black cherries, supplement the diet, especially in late summer and fall. Learn more about fox hunting strategies to understand their success in your region.

In spring, when small mammals are breeding and populations are expanding, foxes have abundant rodent prey. Voles and mice produce multiple litters, increasing availability. Foxes hunt frequently and successfully during this season. Young rabbits also become available as breeding season progresses. Late spring brings more insects and small birds. During summer, foxes continue hunting rodents but also exploit seasonal fruit availability. Grasshoppers and other large insects become food sources. Young birds fledge and provide easier prey than adult birds. Berries and cherries ripen, and foxes consume them opportunistically alongside hunting. In fall, as berries peak, foxes shift to more plant-based feeding to build fat reserves. They still hunt rodents but spend more time foraging for fruit. This is the fattening season, crucial for survival through winter. Winter presents the greatest challenge. Snow cover makes hunting harder because rodents are beneath the snow surface. Foxes depend more on scavenging carrion left by other predators or roadkill. They hunt more actively but with less success. Stored berries and any remaining fruit help sustain them through lean months.

Foxes in the northeastern woodlands of Maryland have access to abundant rabbits, squirrels, and rodents. Deciduous forests provide diverse prey. Eastern cottontails are particularly important in this region. Berries like black cherries are abundant in warmer months. The forests and fields of Virginia support similar prey, though the mix varies by habitat type. Open fields have more voles and field mice. Wooded edges provide chipmunks and tree squirrels. Agricultural areas increase access to ground squirrels and rats. Foxes in the Pennsylvania region face similar conditions to neighboring northeastern states. Foxes in grasslands and prairies depend heavily on voles and pocket gophers, with fewer tree squirrels available. These open-habitat foxes also hunt more birds and insects. Coastal regions provide additional prey like shore birds. Urban and suburban foxes have adapted to eating discarded human food, pet food, and small pets left outdoors. They hunt rodents and rabbits in overgrown areas. Pet cats and small dogs become prey in some urban populations. The availability of garbage changes the diet significantly compared to wild populations.

Foxes use their excellent hearing to locate prey beneath snow and leaf litter. They can hear a mouse squeaking from far away. Once prey location is pinpointed, the fox stalks carefully, moving quietly to avoid detection. When close enough, the fox pounces, using its powerful hind legs to launch into the air. The fox's long tail helps balance during the pounce. Sharp teeth and strong jaws quickly kill small prey. For larger prey like rabbits, the chase is more involved. Foxes reach speeds of around 30 miles per hour in short bursts. If the rabbit escapes to a burrow, the chase ends and the fox must seek other prey. Foxes hunting birds use different tactics. They may stalk perched birds or catch fledglings on the ground. Flying birds are rarely caught. Foxes occasionally wade into water to catch fish or crayfish. They also flip over rocks and logs searching for insects and small creatures beneath. For fruit and berries, foxes simply bite and consume them directly from plants or the ground. This flexible hunting approach makes foxes successful predators in diverse habitats.

Fox kits are born blind and helpless, relying entirely on their mother's milk for the first several weeks. Nursing continues for about three to four weeks. During this time, the mother fox hunts while remaining close to the den. As kits grow, the mother begins bringing solid food to the den. She presents freshly killed prey for the kits to explore and practice eating. Initially, kits may not kill the prey themselves. They observe their mother's killing techniques and gradually learn. By six to eight weeks of age, kits are capable of eating mostly solid food, though nursing continues. At this point, both parents bring prey to the den. Kits play with prey, which helps develop hunting skills. By autumn, young foxes follow parents on hunting trips and participate in actual hunting. Juvenile foxes have higher success rates at catching prey than adults because they practice relentlessly. They learn which prey is easiest to catch and where to find it. By the time juveniles disperse in winter or early spring, they are capable hunters. Some young foxes remain with parents longer than others, depending on prey availability and family dynamics.

In neighborhoods and suburbs, foxes are attracted to accessible food sources. Pet food left outside is readily consumed. Garbage in unsecured cans provides high-calorie meals. Compost piles attract rodents that foxes hunt. Chicken coops and small livestock are attacked if not properly secured. Foxes will eat pet rabbits and guinea pigs. Never intentionally feed foxes, as this causes habituation and conflicts with humans. Feeding makes foxes less afraid of people and more likely to cause problems. Foxes that are unafraid may enter homes through pet doors or attack small pets outdoors. Some cities have had to relocate or euthanize habituation problem foxes. To prevent conflicts, secure all food sources. Store garbage in sealed containers. Keep pet food indoors. Supervise small pets outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk. Provide secure enclosures for chickens and other small livestock. Trim vegetation that provides cover near homes. These steps reduce fox presence and prevent problems. Accepting foxes as part of urban ecology works better than attempting to eliminate them. They control rodent populations, which reduces disease and other pest problems.

Coyotes, which overlap fox ranges across much of the United States, eat similar prey but in different proportions. Coyotes hunt larger prey like deer fawns and adult rabbits more often than foxes do. Coyotes are larger and stronger, allowing them to kill bigger animals. Foxes focus on smaller, easier prey. Both species eat fruit and insects, but coyotes depend less on these foods. Domestic dogs, particularly feral packs, can consume similar rodents and rabbits but lack the refined hunting efficiency of foxes. Feral dogs often hunt in groups and take larger prey. Bobcats, found in many of the same regions as foxes, eat similar small mammals and birds. However, bobcats can take prey larger than foxes, including adult rabbits and young deer. Hawks and owls consume similar birds and rodents but cannot access prey beneath snow or deep grass as effectively as ground-hunting foxes. The varied diet of foxes, combined with their hunting ability and habitat flexibility, makes them successful across diverse North American ecosystems. Their role as rodent and rabbit predators benefits ecosystem balance by controlling small mammal populations.