Are you curious about the dietary habits of foxes? Let’s uncover the answer to the question, “What Do Foxes Eat?”. Despite their notorious reputation as chicken thieves, their dining menu is broader than you may think!
Unraveling the Wild Fox’s Diet
Turns out, foxes are opportunistic eaters! Ranging from squirrels to mice, or even a strayed muskrat, if it’s small and they can catch it, it’s food. However, they don’t bother felines and canines much – these ever-aware creatures are challenging to sneak up on!
Scavengers or Hunters?
A key fact is, foxes are adept predators. Birds in the nest, mature ones they can outrun, or even a nest full of eggs – all are an indulgence for a fox. Even a mole burrowing near the ground surface wouldn’t stand a chance against the fox’s heightened hearing senses. Like scavengers, they also love fruits, berries, and insects.
Urban Landscape: What Do Foxes Eat?
Belonging to the canine family, foxes display admirable adaptability, like their cousins, the coyotes and wolves. They’ve made themselves comfortable in our urban landscapes, foraging in the nighttime for dog food or rummaging through trash cans. Some city-dwelling foxes have been even spotted savoring pizza crusts, if you can believe it!
Urban Adapters Extraordinaire
As shy creatures, their city escapades mostly go under the radar, as they maintain their distance from humans. Foxes, essentially, keep up the appearance of a sneaky midnight vigilant, scavenging the urban jungles.
See Related: The Ultimate Guide: What Do Mice Eat
Diet of Newborn Foxes
Do newborn foxes drink milk? Absolutely! Similar to dogs, baby foxes or pups, are born blind and rely solely on their mother’s milk in their first few weeks. With time, the mother provides them with regurgitated food followed by small animals like mice.
Training with Prey
As the pups grow, the mother brings them live animals to practice hunting skills. Starting with play and ending in hearty meals, the pups learn to fend for themselves in the wild. This clever survival tactic ensures the survival of this intelligent species.
A Final Thought
Due to their diverse dietary portfolio and exceptional adaptability, foxes have a sturdy stake in the circle of life. Their primary hurdle remains us – humans. Hence, it is our responsibility to ensure their survival, so they can continue fascinating us with their exceptional cunning for generations to come.
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