Foxes are omnivorous; thus, they eat both grass and meat. So, you might have thought – do foxes eat deer? The simple answer is that it is not a matter of taste but intelligence.
Moreover, foxes are not picky; thus, they eat a lot of things. Foxes occasionally prey on fawns; however, they are too small to try their luck at eating an adult deer.
Likewise, deer only hunt fawns if coyotes and lions are not in the vicinity. Similarly, foxes will eat the remains of a deer if larger animals have left any part of the meat.
Read along, as we will discuss everything you need to know about their eating habits and reasons behind certain eating patterns and get to know the nature of a fox.
What Does a Fox Usually Eat?
Foxes are omnivorous and highly opportunistic. They mostly act as scavengers. They are not moody and will do anything they get during a particular season. Thus, their diet varies across the year and region to region. Likewise, different species of foxes have different eating preferences.
Generally, they eat the following list of food.
● Insects
● Eggs
● Small mammals
● Carrion
● Reptiles
● Berries
● Vegetables
● Fruits
● Seeds
● Fungi
● Fish
● Crabs
● Worms
● Small birds
Why (and when) a Fox May Eat Deer Meat?
Although deer is never the first dish on foxes’ menu, they will not shy away from prying a deer if their preferred food is unavailable. It is as if they are changing their dessert, but why and when does this happen? Let’s explore!
Scarcity
Foxes do not normally eat deer but would not hesitate if their favorite food became scarce. Especially in winter, when other food is hard to get, foxes would turn their attention to deer.
Carcasses
Foxes would eat deer if they came across carcasses left by other animals. It is also known as carrion.
Opportunity
As foxes are opportunistic, they attack a weaker, sick, old, or injured deer. Therefore, they would wait for an opportunity to come their way and pounce once available. Moreover, they prefer preying on fawns, so they will hunt it down if they find one alone.
Do Foxes Eat Baby Deer?
Baby deer, also known as fawns, provide the best option for foxes to eat. Since fawns are smaller than adult deer and cannot run as fast, therefore, they become an easy target for foxes.
Since foxes do not chase adult deer due to their bigger size and faster speed, a baby deer seems like a snack passing by and the one they will not miss. However, this is not a regular occurrence, as foxes will only take a chance chasing a fawn.
So, the answer to the question – do foxes eat deer, is that foxes eat baby deer, but only if a chance is offered will they not struggle to get a fawn.
How Do Foxes Sense Dead Deer?
Foxes have excellent senses. They can watch and hear from as far as 40 yards away. Likewise, their sense of smell is also top-notch. Therefore, they will smell a dead deer from far away.
Moreover, they can spot a fawn wandering away from the herd and catch it in hindsight. Additionally, they can enjoy a feast by smelling meat and tracking it down. It re-confirms that foxes are opportunists – making the best of what is available.
Why Don’t Foxes Regularly Eat Deer
Although foxes are fast, sneaky, and smart, there are certain reasons they do not regularly eat deer. Here are the factors that cause foxes not to eat deer regularly.
Small Size
One of the major reasons foxes do not regularly eat deer is that they are significantly smaller than deer. In fact, even the largest red fox, which can weigh up to 30 pounds, is smaller than a deer. Therefore, they are unlikely to go after a four times larger animal.
They Don’t Hunt in Packs
Foxes hunt alone; they avoid hunting in packs. Even within a family, each member will go solo hunting. Therefore, they cannot get down a deer as they lack teamwork and support from companions. Thus making it tough to hunt a bigger animal like a deer.
Deer Aren’t Nocturnal, But Foxes Are
Another reason for foxes not to have deer on their regular menu is that deer are not nocturnal. Contrarily, foxes sleep in the daytime and only get out at night for hunting. Therefore, the probability of a fox contacting a deer is minimal at night.
Are Deer Afraid of Foxes
No! Deer are not generally afraid of foxes. The main reason is that deer are larger than faxes. Moreover, foxes do not chase deer to prey; hence, they do not scare deer. Therefore, we have seen deer and fox wandering together in the wilderness.
What Animals Usually Prey on Deer
Several animals prey on deer. Generally, carnivores prey on deer, including wolves, coyotes, and bears. Additionally, cougars, lions, and other predators also prey on deer.
Wolves
Wolves are one of the largest deer predators. Wolves will not miss on hunting down a deer. Since, they hunt in packs, thus providing them an advantage over other predators to chase down a deer successfully.
Additionally, beer has a body size that favors it to prey on deer.
Coyotes
Although coyotes love meat, they hunt alone. Therefore, coyotes find it tough to hunt a deer, so they focus on fawns or carrion. Moreover, coyotes prey on small animals like squirrels and rabbits.
However, coyotes can hunt in packs (though very rare), but they get an adult deer when they do so.
Bears
Bears are omnivorous, so they eat plenty of meat, and deer become the best source of meat. Moreover, deer seldom hunt adult deer but fulfill their meat requirements from a fawn (baby deer).
However, grizzly bears are built differently; they are more aggressive than black bears. Therefore, these will pursue and prey on deer more often.
The Seasonal Diet of Foxes
Season has a significant impact on the fox diet. Since the food is less in winter, they change their eating habits. Moreover, they will not try to eat less-preferred food when their preferred food is abundant.
Winter And Spring
Generally, food is hard to find during winter and the start of spring. Therefore, foxes focus on small animals like mice and rabbits, which are easy to catch. Sometimes, they come across berries left over from fall and buried in the frost.
Summer
Summer is the best time of food for foxes. With increased temperatures and warmth, they have abundant options. Therefore, they enjoy grasshoppers, beetles, and a lot of fresh berries.
Fall
Foxes tend to eat everything that comes across in the fall, as food will become scarce during winter. They eat berries, beetles, and fawns.
How to Get Rid of Foxes
Although foxes are not fond of eating deer, they must stay aware that foxes will attack fawns. Therefore, deer need to keep away from foxes, especially newborn babies.
Therefore, deer use the following tactics to get rid of foxes.
● They stay in groups and close to fawns. A dedicated deer must safeguard the fawns of the herd from predators.
● They have alarming systems to inform the herd of any danger.
● They come out for food at times when predators are not around.
● They do not leave behind smell, thus minimizing the chances of a fox tracking them.
Do Foxes Eat Deer – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Animals Eat Foxes?
The following list of animals eat foxes.
● Mountain lions
● Eagles
● Coyotes
● Wolves
● Lynxes
Is a fox considered a scavenger?
Yes! Foxes are scavengers as they eat leftovers. However, they hunt small animals but will eat meat if they find any left by other predators.
How big of an animal will a fox eat?
Considering fox size, they do not eat large animals. They will prey on small creatures like mice, rabbits, and bunnies as these suit their size and are easy to catch.
What is a fox’s favorite food?
Since foxes are opportunistic carnivores, they love to eat anything easily available. They will also eat frogs, fish, and reptiles. Additionally, they love eating wild grasses, mushrooms, and seeds from vegetation.