What Do Foxes Eat ? Secrets Of Foxes 🦊

This article is intended for all people who want to feed the little fox that is at the very bottom of their garden and maintain a relationship with it.

Whether we live in the country or in a city, most of us have seen a fox in our lifetime. But what do you know about one of the France's most iconic animals ?

Most foxes live in rural areas, including forests, farmland and wetlands. But that doesn't mean you'll see a Fox on your next country walk (country Foxes are very shy). You will have more chances to see an urban fox trotting on the street or in your garden !

What do foxes eat ?

Foxes have a very varied diet. They are expert hunters, who catch rabbits, rodents, birds, frogs and earthworms, and also eat carrion. But they are not carnivorous (they are actually omnivorous since they also feed on berries and fruits). Urban foxes also rummage through trash cans for food and often catch pigeons and rats.

Foxes are born deaf, blind and dependent on their mother's milk, just like puppies. Pups begin to eat solid food around the age of four weeks and are usually completely weaned at the age of 12 weeks.

What can I feed foxes in my garden ?

Feeding Foxes in your garden is controversial, but if you feed them correctly, it can turn out to be a real ritual with your family.

Things to avoid :

• Try to tame, touch or hand feed foxes, especially in urban areas. As wild animals, they must be respected and discouraged from becoming too bold. Many people are afraid of urban foxes because they confuse their curious behavior with aggression.
  
  
• The distribution of excessive amounts of food could encourage Foxes to become overconfident.
  
  
• Leave food uneaten by foxes that could attract unwanted visitors like rats.

Most of the diet of a Fox is meat protein. So the best things to do to feed foxes in your area are cooked or raw meat, or canned dog food. They are also fond of peanuts, fruits and cheese.

Foxes can be fed all year round, but they must follow a well-defined eating routine. This encourages them to return to your garden at a certain time to wait for their meal. They are less likely to leave their food on the spot, which discourages rats.

Where do Foxes Live ?

It has been found that foxes are in decline, with the population estimated at 357,000 individuals in 2018. While most of France's fox population lives in the countryside, a 2017 study found that the urban fox population could reach 150,000 individuals.

Foxes are fantastic " diggers" and live underground in dug dens called "burrows " or"fox holes". Foxes can also live on the surface, especially if they can find a sheltered place.

What noise does the Fox make ?

Foxes can emit about 28 different sounds. Despite this, it is an essentially silent animal, which calls especially during the winter breeding season. You are more likely to hear one of the two distinctive sounds of foxes: the barking of the male fox and the frightening cry of the female.

The barking of a fox is a "A-woo!", which is very similar to that of a domestic dog. They use this contact call to communicate with their friends and rivals. Listen to a fox barking.

Foxes look more like screaming humans! Their high-pitched "Woooo!" rises and retreats across the landscape, announcing to the male foxes that they are ready to breed. Listen to a fox's call.

If you're lucky enough to come across a family of country foxes or have foxes in your garden, you may hear the little ones. They make a playful sound of "Ack-ack-ack-ack" when they fight against each other. Listen to the foxes.

What do fox marks and feces look like?

The best places to find fox paw prints are in mud or snow, in woods, wetlands and in the countryside in general. These prints are clearly visible in the ground, with the claw marks. Like dogs, foxes have a central pad surrounded by four toe pads, although fox prints are narrower than those of a dog. Foxes also have a smaller, almost diamond-shaped central pad with toe marks that are higher up.

In a way, the footprints of the fox's paws also resemble those of the cat, but since cats can retract their claws, their fingerprints do not show claw marks.

Fox droppings (or poop) are much easier to distinguish than dog feces. Fox droppings are usually dark, long and tapered at one end (dog droppings can be much larger and dirtier).

Fox droppings also tend to contain the remnants of their meals: undigested animal hair, crushed bones and even fruit seeds. They like to use them to mark their territory, so you might see them in the open. In the countryside, keep your eyes open around tufts of grass, stones and logs. In urban areas, keep an eye on the middle of your lawn!