What Eats Foxes In the Wild? (Fox Predators)

Disclaimer: The information presented below is for general informational & educational purposes only. Always consult with animal professionals in case of specific concerns.

Predators hunt and eat foxes all around the world. A fox needs to apply many skills and instincts to survive and react quickly when a threat comes.

This species has numerous wild enemies because predators may regard it as a food source or attack it due to territorial or instincts.

What eats foxes? Compared to most predatory animals, their modest size contributes to the danger they face. That’s why they have several hunters.

Let’s dig into this post to know creatures may kill and eat this species!

What Eats Foxes?

what eats foxes

This species has many rivals and predators, such as mountain lions, coyotes, eagles, wolves, owls, bobcats, lynxes, wolverines, leopards, bears, and humans.

Foxes belong to the Canidae family of omnivorous animals. As a result, they have a connection to dogs, wolves, and jackals.

They feature a long, slender nose and a trapezoidal face. The ears seem extremely pointed and protrude straight up from their heads.

They also boast a suitable skull, tiny legs, and lengthy, fluffy tails.

Which animals eat foxes? Let’s look at the predators of foxes one by one.

#1. Mountain Lions

Mountain lions eat foxes. They certainly do. When talking about fox predators, this species ranks at the top of the list.

Like several other predators, mountain lions are opportunistic feeders who hunt in the dark and prowl at night.

They usually rush onto their target from a concealing posture and give a deadly blow to its neck when attacking and killing.

They are solitary animals. They will frequently move prey to an area with bush and shelter where they may bury it and return later.

Nevertheless, they’ll eat the same prey several times during the day.

#2. Coyotes

Both coyotes and foxes are animals with fur on their body. However, they are each other’s natural adversaries that fight all the time. That’s why these animals generally avoid coyotes’ territory.

Coyotes don’t typically consume a fox or don’t go out of their way to pursue them. However, when one enters a coyote’s area, it must be cautious.

To survive, coyotes, like most other predatory creatures in nature, will hunt and kill a fox.

Moreover, because the human population expands, animals are being pushed out of the wild areas. These creatures are forced to live in cities.

As a result, they may unintentionally collide, resulting in a bloodbath.

#3. Eagles

Are eagles capable of catching a fox and eating it? Yes, they do! These birds with long beak are a type of raptor that can hunt quite well.

Although it may appear ridiculous, Eagles can hunt on fox puppies, sometimes called younger cubs, kits, or even full-grown ones.

Due to their height and size, they will take a fox youngster or a juvenile one.

Although they generally consume fish or other birds, they occasionally take creatures, shred them, and transport them up to the nests.

Eagles and foxes share the same territory, which jeopardizes a smaller fox.

That’s because these large birds benefit from being able to strike prey from the air and have excellent eyesight.

#4. Wolves

Wolves are fox-eating relatives. It may seem unusual that the same species will kill and consume each other, but the wildlife world works differently.

They’re beautiful animals, but they’re also ferocious, and they’ve been reported to kill and eat a fox.

Despite sharing the same family, Canidae wolves are fierce apex predators who will feed when they become starving.

These animals are opportunistic hunters who attack in packs. Although it’s unlikely that a wolf pack would go after a fox, it’s possible.

These wolves have a reputation for being violent. They are highly diverse mammals with unique hunting habits and approaches, although sharing features with foxes.

If it’s hard to imagine the battle between a wolf and a fox, you can watch this video:

#5. Owls

Owls, and some other animals with claws, forage at nighttime, which allows them to be more accurate while searching for nocturnal creatures like foxes.

Owls can live in a wide range of habitats, from North America to Africa.

On the other hand, foxes have recently widened their range, with the red fox reportedly crossing continents. So, owl and fox encounters are more frequent.

Owls are among raptors, making them a dangerous foe in nature. They can strike quickly and forcefully, capturing their victim with their razor-sharp talons.

#6. Bobcats

bobcat

Bobcats eat various small creatures, including foxes, hawks, owls, and raccoons.

Bobcats consume roughly 3 lbs of flesh each day. Therefore a juvenile fox might be the ideal size for these animals.

They are shy creatures who prefer to remain hidden from people. Human building and advances force them out of their natural habitats.

While encounters between bobcats and foxes are uncommon, bobcats sometimes scavenge at dusk, allowing them access to the fox’s foraging and social routines.

#7. Lynxes

Lynx is a different type of cat. The lynx can be found throughout North America, Asia, and Europe.

They are huge and muscular, allowing them to attack and catch a fox.

This species and lynxes share many things in common in terms of the food they eat and the regions they forage in.

As a result, they occasionally come into contact with one another.

Although these enormous wild cats may readily chase down a fox, it is not typical.

When their typical diet is scarce, they may hunt and kill these small animals.

Read more: Bobcat Vs Lynx: What Are The Differences?

#8. Wolverines

Wolverines

The Wolverines are primarily scavengers, but they may also hunt on smaller species.

Wolverines are the most influential members of the weasel species. These ferocious creatures have a reputation for being dangerous to human.

They’ll frequently hurt a creature without murdering it, but striking it several times and allowing it to bleed to death.

Like other mammals such as bears, the wolverines will bury and come back the carcasses many times.

These animals are also famous for devouring the target bones and killing many preys to save the rest later.

#9. Leopards

There is a risk of a leopard devouring a fox if any territory where a fox lives are adequate for a substantial cat-like leopard to dwell.

Leopards are among the more giant cats that hunt foxes, and while a fox doesn’t seem like a feast, it’s sufficient to keep the cycle of life going.

Red foxes are more significant than most of the other ones in this family, and they provide a delicious feast for a giant wild cat like a leopard.

The animal world has a reputation for being a harsh environment. At the very least, a leopard’s attack on its target will be swift.

Leopards are quicker than foxes. The first will come out on top in a fight between a leopard and a fox!

#10. Bears

Do bears hunt and eat foxes? The short answer is they certainly do. Bears are enormous mammals that make them terrible pets.

They can be common throughout North America and reside in mountainous areas, including the northern latitudes, where temperatures are freezing.

Bears, like other predators, are opportunistic eaters. They will devour a fox if the opportunity presents itself.

Bears are more likely than foxes to grab prey from younger, more aggressive predators.

A bear’s food consists of 85 percent vegetation. However, these animals are also omnivores who consume a wide variety of foods.

#11. Humans

We’ve discussed which animals consume a fox. Humans are the last fox predators on this list.

Though they are wild animals, but do foxes dangerous to human? Not exactly. Do humans eat this species? Yes!

One of the fox’s most fervent foes appears to be humans. They have been eating these creatures for many years. Native Americans ate everything they killed.

Due to these agricultural operations, humans degrade their natural environment, leaving them vulnerable to enemies higher up in the hierarchy.

They not only consume them but also devastate their ecosystems, shoot them for entertainment, and capture these animals for the skin and fur industry.

Other animals hardly come across a fox. If they encounter this species, they consume it.

On the other hand, humans hunt and murder creatures alarmingly as they are considerably more populous.

For instance, because of the fur market, the population of Arctic foxes has plummeted.

How Do Foxes Fight Predators?

Even though foxes are modest and single hunters, you’d think they’d face countless enemies.

Surprisingly, they don’t seem to be in any danger in nature! So, how does this species manage to thrive in the animal world?

Most animals have a natural tendency to avoid danger. Some creatures survive by concealing themselves in their surroundings.

For example, red foxes dig dens on grassland to keep themselves safe. They will also employ cougar smell to hide from predators like coyotes.

Gray ones may climb trees to evade predators. Besides, these creatures fight back or flee to protect themselves.

On the other hand, this species prefers to flee rather than confront humans or other enemies.

Conclusion

This article has eventually solved your vexing question: What eats foxes? This species may deal with some animals like owls, lynxes, or even humans.

Humans are the main danger to this species due to farming or trading activities among these hunters. Therefore, the fox population has significantly decreased in recent years.