Foxes and wolves inhabit many of the same areas across North America, Europe, and Asia. At first glance, their size difference may make you wonder – could a fox take down a wolf? Get ready to find out whether foxes eat wolves in the wild.
If you want a quick answer: While a small fox is no match for a fully grown wolf, foxes may prey on wolf pups. But generally, foxes do not hunt or eat adult wolves.
The Diet of Foxes
Foxes are opportunistic predators and scavengers
Foxes have an extremely diverse diet as opportunistic feeders. They will eat almost anything they can find or catch. Foxes hunt live prey like rodents, rabbits, birds, eggs, insects, fish, crustaceans, and even deer fawns.
However, they also don’t hesitate to scavenge carrion or eat fruit and human waste. Their diverse palate allows them to adapt to many environments.
Primary prey items for foxes
Although foxes aren’t picky eaters, they do have preferred foods. Small rodents like mice, voles, and rats make up over 50% of most foxes’ diets. These small mammals are abundant and easy for foxes to catch. Rabbits are also a dietary staple where available.
Foxes are quick enough to regularly catch healthy adult cottontails.
Birds rank second behind mammals in dietary significance for most foxes. Ground-nesting species like pheasants and quail are easy targets, especially their eggs and chicks. But foxes also climb trees to raid songbird nests. They eat a wide variety of bird species of all sizes.
Insects don’t contribute significantly to fox nutrition but do provide variety. Foxes eat beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, and caterpillars when the opportunity arises.
Fruit can seasonally compose over 50% of some foxes’ diets. Foxes enjoy berries, apples, plums, grapes, cherries, and other sweet fruits.
Foxes hunt almost exclusively at night to avoid competition from larger daytime predators. Their vertical pupils allow excellent night vision to help them find prey in darkness.
Foxes as scavengers
Foxes aren’t above scavenging already dead animals. Carrion from large animal carcasses can temporarily be an abundant food source if foxes find them quick enough. Foxes also dig through trash or eat pet food left outdoors.
Nothing edible goes to waste with foxes. They are true opportunistic survivors, making the most of any potential meal they encounter. Their diverse palate and willingness to eat carrion allows them to thrive across habitats worldwide.
The Hunting Habits and Abilities of Foxes
Foxes typically hunt small mammals and birds
Foxes are opportunistic hunters and will prey on a variety of small animals. Their most common prey includes rodents like mice, voles and rabbits. They also hunt birds and eggs when the opportunity arises. Foxes have even been known to eat insects, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
Their diverse palate allows them to adapt to different environments and food sources.
Foxes typically hunt alone, especially at night. This allows them to quietly stalk prey without detection. During the day, foxes may hunt in pairs or small family groups, allowing them to take down slightly larger prey.
By hunting solo or in pairs, foxes are able to consume up to 1-2 pounds of food per day.
Physical characteristics that aid foxes in hunting
Foxes have many physical adaptations that help them succeed as hunters:
- Excellent hearing – Foxes can detect small animal movements in leaves, grass or undergrowth.
- Keen sense of smell – They can sniff out the faintest rodent trails and track prey.
- Sharp eyesight – Foxes have excellent night vision and depth perception.
- Lightning-quick reflexes – They can pounce and change direction rapidly during pursuit.
- Bushy tails – The tail provides balance and agility when running and pouncing.
- Non-retractable claws – Unlike some canines, fox claws remain unsheathed to aid in grasping prey.
These physical attributes make foxes well-equipped for hunting small, quick animals. Their senses allow them to detect prey day or night, while their speed and reflexes help them capitalize during the chase.
Foxes are stealthy, patient hunters
Foxes are patient, strategic hunters. Their stalking process typically includes:
- Approaching prey silently and downwind.
- Pinching down and freezing in a “listen” pose.
- Stalking low to the ground while hiding behind vegetation.
- Pouncing from short distances when prey is located.
Foxes may wait motionless for long periods, allowing prey to wander into range. They orient their large ears to pinpoint rodent or bird sounds. Foxes are careful not to reveal their presence prematurely and startle prey. Their stealth allows them to get within striking distance before attacking.
However, foxes are only successful hunters about 50% of the time. Their opportunistic nature means they cannot afford to be picky. Foxes must consume any food they can find to survive lean times. Their varied diet and patient hunting style equips foxes wonderfully for life in the wild.
Interactions Between Foxes and Wolves
Wolves see foxes as competition for resources
Wolves and foxes often compete for the same prey and habitat resources. Both species prey on small mammals like rodents, rabbits, and hares, as well as birds and eggs. This dietary overlap can lead to competition, especially when prey is scarce.
Wolves generally view foxes as a nuisance and potential competitor.
Wolves have a distinct size advantage over foxes which allows them to consume larger prey. However, foxes are more adept at hunting small mammals. Foxes may steal food sources caught by wolves, adding to the animosity between the species.
In areas where wolf and fox territories overlap, wolves are dominant. Foxes appear to avoid wolves when possible and are subordinate when interactions occur. Wolves may kill foxes caught on their territory as they view them as a threat to limited resources.
Foxes may prey on vulnerable wolf pups
While healthy adult wolves are rarely preyed upon by foxes, wolf pups may be vulnerable in the den. Foxes have been observed preying on weak or unattended wolf pups, although this is likely rare. Some evidence indicates foxes may scavenge wolf kills and eat remains left by wolves.
Foxes pose little danger to most wolf pups as they are guarded closely by adult wolves. However, sick or injured pups or those wandering from the den may become prey. Foxes may also raid dens while wolves are away hunting. Overall, the risks to wolf pups appear minimal except in unusual circumstances.
Foxes avoid areas with high wolf densities
Foxes tend to avoid settling in areas with established wolf packs. Wolves occupy large home ranges and can reduce fox abundance in those territories. Foxes appear capable of coexisting with wolves by settling in the spaces between wolf pack territories.
One study in Scandinavia found that red foxes strongly avoided wolf home ranges. Red fox population densities were 4 times lower in areas with wolves compared to areas without. This suggests foxes limit conflicts by avoiding high wolf densities.
Both wolves and foxes are adaptable predators. While they compete in many areas, foxes use strategies like habitat partitioning to find enough space and food to coexist. Overall, foxes appear to steer clear of wolves when possible to reduce negative interactions.
The Dangers Wolves Pose to Foxes
Wolves will kill foxes to reduce competition
Wolves and foxes occupy similar ecological niches as medium-sized predators, often competing for the same prey like rabbits, deer, mice and other small mammals. This competition for limited resources can lead to conflicts, with wolves posing a significant threat to foxes in areas where they coexist.
As apex predators, wolves will readily kill foxes to reduce competition for food. This is especially common during denning season when wolf parents are provisioning hungry pups and can ill-afford competition for prey.
A 2013 study in Yellowstone National Park found that over 60% of wolf-fox interactions resulted in the death of the fox.
In addition to direct killings, wolves can negatively impact fox populations by reducing the availability of shared prey. A single wolf pack can consume over 20 deer per year, leaving fewer deer available for foxes. This food scarcity can lead to malnutrition and starvation among foxes.
However, the interactions are complex. Foxes have developed strategies to minimize conflicts, like spatial and temporal avoidance of high wolf activity areas. And scavenging on wolf kills provides supplemental food for clever foxes.
Still, fox mortality rates are estimated to be 2-3 times higher in wolf inhabited areas compared to wolf-free zones.
Adult wolves are too formidable for a fox to take down
Given their considerable size difference, a lone fox stands little chance in a direct one-on-one battle with an adult gray wolf. The average gray wolf weighs 80-115 lbs compared to a fox at just 8-15 lbs.
Wolves have thicker fur, stronger jaws, and a more powerful bite—over 406 psi (pounds per square inch) compared to a fox’s bite of around 160 psi. If cornered, a wolf can easily kill a fox with a single crushing bite to the skull or spine.
| Animal | Average Weight | Bite Force PSI |
| Gray Wolf | 80-115 lbs | Over 406 psi |
| Red Fox | 8-15 lbs | Around 160 psi |
The only scenario a fox could take down an adult wolf is if the wolf was already severely injured or debilitated by illness. Even then, the fox would likely need to work in a small pack, using distraction techniques, caution and persistence to exploit the wolf’s weakness without being killed itself.
Foxes tend to avoid adult wolves when possible. However, young wolf pups or unattended juveniles may be targeted by hungry foxes. So wolf packs must guard dens and rendezvous sites to prevent foxes from snatching vulnerable pups.
Conclusion
In summary, it is highly unlikely for a fox to prey on or eat a fully grown, healthy wolf due to the substantial size difference. However, foxes may occasionally hunt vulnerable wolf pups if given the chance.
Generally though, foxes tend to avoid areas with high wolf densities to reduce the risk of being killed themselves. While foxes and wolves inhabit overlapping ranges, wolves view foxes as competition and will kill them to reduce resource competition when possible.
