What animal eats foxes?

Foxes are known to be carnivorous animals like every other Canidae (dog) family and are closely related to the domestic and wild dogs, raccoons, badgers, and coyotes. However, one may be wondering, “if foxes are predators, why do foxes get eaten by other animals ?” and “what animal eats foxes?

Although foxes are predators by nature, they are known to feed on smaller and weaker animals like rats, rabbits, birds, insects, and small reptiles. Foxes have also become prey animals (many thanks to their small and fragile frame) to larger, stronger, and apex predators on the food chain.

Animals such as mountain lions, bears, wolves, coyotes, lynxes, jackals, and other flying carnivores like eagles, owls, and vultures kill foxes for food. Humans also hunt foxes for sport, or their coat, fur, and meat. Some farmers also shoot and kill foxes on their farm for being nuisance animals.

Some big cats and small canids(such as badgers) may sometimes find delight in a fox diet. Let us take a more in-depth dive into these beautiful creatures (predator turned prey animals) and look at some of the fox predators and why they enjoy the fox diet.

Foxes And Their Behavior

Foxes are omnivorous animals with twelve to twenty-five known species ( Including red foxes, island fox, grey fox, arctic foxes, etc.). Their size ranges from small to medium, and they have evolved and adapted over the years to their various environment. Foxes are present in almost all parts of the world ( Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and the Arctic) except Antarctica.

Foxes are smart, agile, fast, and intelligent, possessing excellent hunting skills. Hence, the saying “As Cunning as a Fox.” The fox is an omnivorous animal with a large variety of appetite, ranging from insects to meats (such as rats, rabbits, land birds, crab, fishes, small reptiles, etc.) and plants (fruits and vegetation).

Foxes are ideally created to do what foxes do, and they’ve mastered and adapted pretty well to their environment. A fox can live and survive in the wild and among humans in urban areas, A fox in the wild may have a life span of one to three, but we have recently found that foxes can live longer in an urban area if they don’t get killed or hunted by humans.

Predators and human activities have put a lot of pressure on fox populations around the world, with several fox species now considered “endangered” in their natural location or territory.

Fox Predators

Knowing a little about foxes and their behaviors, let’s take a look at the list of some of the predators that eat foxes, with a side peep into their geographical location.

Mountain Lion

Mountain lion, also called Cougar, is considered the second largest cat of the Felidae family. Mountain Lions are highly adaptable and located mainly in America, spreading from California to Canada and several South America parts.

They are ambush predators, eating almost every variety of prey, from rodents to deers, buffaloes, reptiles, birds, amphibians, even bears, and foxes are not left out. Foxes can be carnivorous animals, too, so there is a shortage of prey in an environment. Foxes may become direct competitors to Cougars, making them eat both adult and young foxes for food.

Wolves

The apex predators in the Canidae Family are the wolves. They are the world’s largest and most powerful dogs, the predators at the top of the Northern hemisphere food chain.

Wolves usually do not reside everywhere, but they can be found in the Northern hemisphere ( mostly in Asia, North America, and Northern and Eastern Europe). Wolves hunt in packs and share their kill, they are known to go after large prey, but when food supply is scarce, wolves will practically hunt any fox that crosses their way.

Lynx

Lynxes belong to the cat family, but due to their large size and strong muscles, a lynx is more than capable of killing and eating foxes if one or two crosses their path while hunting for food. A lynx is usually found in Asia, Noth America, and some places in Europe.

Coyotes, Wild dogs, and Jackals

Coyotes, jackals, and badgers in Europe, Asia, and North America, often fight with foxes whenever there is a shortage of food. Foxes are related to these animals and often share the same prey, food, or diet. Young foxes or cubs and small-sized adult(such as a red fox) may often get killed and eaten when they face off with coyotes, badgers, and jackals in food battles.

Birds of Prey

Large birds like hawks, eagles, owls, falcons are carnivorous animals, and they won’t hesitate to scoop away any prey animal within their sight and capacity. Owls and eagles can see the ground clearance from a great distance into the sky, so they hunt, kill, and eat foxes (both adult and young foxes) and up to 87.5% of other mammals around the world. So a red fox with its little frame is an easy kill for a hungry eagle.

Humans

Human activities have proven to be both the greatest aid and biggest threat to fox populations worldwide. Hunting and killing foxes for different reasons and purposes.

Fox hunting was initiated to decrease the fox threat to livestock and farm animals. Humans also don’t just kill and eat foxes; they hunt foxes for their fur, skin, or coat trade. They would also hunt fox for sports purposes, aside from destroying their natural habitat and drastically reducing the fos populations. Humans are indeed the greatest enemies of Foxes.

FAQs

Is it easy to hunt a fox?

Foxes are hunted for sport by humans and for food by other higher and larger carnivorous animals. However, foxes are good predators in themselves, with excellent hunting skills and techniques.

Fox can run at a fast pace, so anyone who wants to hunt them must be faster. Red foxes are also small in size, making it easy for them to quickly burrow and hide in the soil when being hunted. Red foxes and arctic foxes have long and sharp claws that they use to kill prey and defend themselves from predators.

They can also blend their skin color with that of the surrounding, making it difficult for any potential hunter to spot or notice them. So, generally, foxes are not so easy to hunt.

How does a fox protect itself from wild animals?

A fox would typically use their sharp claws to burrow into the soil to escape from higher and bigger animals. Different adult fox species (such as the red foxes, island fox, grey fox, arctic foxes, etc.) can build a den. Foxes will hide themselves and the young foxes (cubs) in the den to stay away from every possible danger.

A fox would also climb trees and sometimes camouflage itself with the surrounding grasses to avoid been killed and eaten by predators.

Can a tiger eat a fox?

Yes, tigers eat foxes. However, tiger doesn’t consider the fox as a major diet, except in food scarcity.

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Conclusion

We believe that now you know what and what animals eat foxes. A hungry bear can also kill foxes for food. Fox fur is used for making winter coats and sweaters by humans. Eagles, red-tailed hawks, owl, and falcons have a reputation for attacking prey animals from above; they

Coyotes and foxes are natural enemies and would almost engage each other whenever they cross paths, but the coyote often comes out victorious and wouldn’t hesitate to eat the fox. Like every other animal that has been able to live, adapt, and survive over the years, you can find foxes in almost all areas of the world.

Foxes, aside from being predators, are also prey to larger and stronger animals. This may sound funny, but nature goes around in cycles that we may sometimes find it hard to comprehend.