What Do Foxes Eat in the UK?

Foxes are adaptable animals found throughout the UK, living in woodland, farmland, towns, cities and suburban gardens.

One reason they thrive in these different environments is their varied diet. Foxes eat both animal and plant foods, taking advantage of whatever suitable food is available in their surroundings.

In the countryside, this can include small mammals, birds, insects, worms and fruit. In urban areas, foxes may also find food in gardens, rubbish bins, compost heaps and discarded food.

Their diet varies with the season, local habitat and availability of food.

Understanding what foxes eat can help explain why they visit gardens, what attracts them to particular areas and how to reduce unwanted visits without harming wildlife.

What Do Foxes Eat in the UK? (Quick Answer)

Foxes in the UK are omnivores, meaning they eat both animal and plant foods. Their diet can include mice, voles, rabbits, birds, insects, earthworms, berries, fallen fruit and carrion.

Urban foxes may also eat discarded food, pet food and scraps they find in gardens or rubbish bins.

Foxes are opportunistic feeders, so their diet varies according to their surroundings and the food available.

What Do Foxes Eat in the Wild?

Wild foxes have a varied diet that helps them survive in different environments.

They hunt small mammals, including mice and voles, and may catch rabbits, birds and other small animals. They also eat insects, earthworms and other invertebrates, as well as fruit and berries when these are available.

Foxes are both hunters and scavengers. They catch live prey when opportunities arise, but will also eat suitable animals that have already died.

Their diet can differ considerably between habitats. A fox living near farmland may have access to different prey from one living in a residential area, where food waste and garden produce may be easier to find.

This flexibility allows foxes to take advantage of changing food supplies rather than depending on a single source.

Do Foxes Eat Mice, Rats, Rabbits and Birds?

Yes. Small mammals and birds can be important parts of a fox’s diet.

Foxes hunt mice and voles in grassland, hedgerows, woodland edges and gardens. They may also catch rats and rabbits when the opportunity arises. Their hunting success depends on factors such as prey availability, the surroundings and the individual fox.

Foxes may also eat wild birds, eggs and young birds. Ground-nesting birds can be vulnerable because their nests may be accessible to mammalian predators, although the risk varies between species and habitats.

For people keeping chickens or ducks, secure housing and a robust enclosed run can help protect poultry from foxes and other predators.

Foxes do not necessarily hunt every animal they encounter. They take advantage of opportunities, and their diet includes many other foods besides live prey.

Do Foxes Eat Insects, Worms and Fruit?

Yes. Foxes eat a variety of invertebrates and plant foods, including earthworms, beetles, larvae, berries and fallen fruit.

Insects and worms can provide accessible food in grassland, soil and leaf litter. Foxes may search through vegetation or investigate lawns when looking for small prey.

Fruit also forms part of their diet. Depending on what is available, foxes may eat blackberries, cherries, apples, pears and other fruit. Fallen apples or berries beneath garden plants can provide an easy meal.

A fox digging into a lawn may therefore be searching for insects or other natural food rather than deliberately damaging the garden.

If fallen fruit is attracting foxes to your property, collecting it regularly may reduce one source of food. However, this will not necessarily stop visits if other food or shelter is available nearby.

What Do Urban Foxes Eat?

Urban foxes can eat many of the same foods as rural foxes, but towns and cities offer additional feeding opportunities.

They may hunt small mammals, catch birds, eat insects and feed on fruit. They can also scavenge food discarded by people or left in accessible bins, compost heaps and outdoor feeding areas.

A 2025 British study investigated the diets of 93 foxes using stable isotope analysis. The researchers estimated that food provided directly or indirectly by people accounted for around 34.6% of the urban fox diet studied, compared with approximately 6% of the rural fox diet. These figures are study estimates, not fixed proportions that apply to every fox.

The findings show that human food sources can make a substantial contribution to some urban foxes’ diets.

This helps explain why certain gardens attract repeated visits. Fallen fruit, spilled bird food, accessible rubbish and pet food can all provide feeding opportunities.

Foxes may also carry food away and bury it for later, so a fox taking something from your garden may not eat it immediately.

If you want to understand why a fox keeps returning to your property, consider what it can reliably find there. Our guide to preventing fox problems in UK gardens explains practical ways to reduce attractants and protect vulnerable areas.

Do Foxes Eat Pet Food and Rubbish?

Yes. Foxes may eat accessible pet food, discarded leftovers and other food waste.

Food left outside for cats or dogs can attract foxes, particularly if it remains available overnight. Spilled bird food may also provide a feeding opportunity, either directly or by attracting rodents that foxes may hunt.

Rubbish bins and compost areas can provide further food if they are not properly secured.

To reduce access to these sources:

Keep rubbish in bins with secure, closed lids.
Avoid leaving pet food outside overnight.
Clear up spilled bird food and food scraps.
Collect fallen fruit when it becomes abundant.
Manage compost areas so food waste is not easily accessible.

These measures can make a garden less attractive to foraging foxes without using harmful deterrents.

Should You Feed Foxes in Your Garden?

Feeding foxes can seem appealing, particularly if you enjoy watching wildlife. However, it is worth considering the possible consequences before making it a regular habit.

Foxes naturally find food by hunting and scavenging, and they do not need people to provide a regular meal. Leaving food out may encourage them to visit more frequently, which can cause difficulties for neighbours or attract other animals.

Food choice also matters. Some foods are unsuitable or dangerous for foxes. The RSPCA advises against feeding grapes or raisins because they are toxic to foxes, and warns that meat bones can cause serious internal injuries or choking.

If you choose to feed foxes, consult reputable wildlife guidance, consider the effect on neighbours and other animals, and never attempt to hand-feed them.

For most gardens, a sensible approach is to enjoy seeing foxes when they pass through naturally while avoiding the creation of a dependable feeding station.

Does a Fox’s Diet Change Throughout the Year?

Yes. Foxes eat what is available, so their diet can change as food sources become more or less abundant.

Fruit and berries may be readily available at certain times of year, while insects, earthworms and small mammals provide other feeding opportunities. Local habitat and weather conditions also affect which foods foxes can find.

A fox living in a town with accessible food waste may have a different diet from one living in farmland or woodland. Individual foxes may also take advantage of particular food sources that are common in their territory.

It is therefore more accurate to describe foxes as adaptable feeders than to assume that every fox follows the same seasonal diet.

Common Questions About What Foxes Eat

Do foxes eat hedgehogs?
Foxes may prey on hedgehogs in some circumstances, but this does not mean hedgehogs are a major food source for every fox. The outcome depends on the animals involved and local conditions.

Do foxes eat frogs?
Yes. Frogs and other small animals may be eaten when foxes encounter them. Amphibians can form part of their varied diet, particularly where suitable wet habitats are nearby.

Do foxes eat bread?
Foxes may eat bread if they find it, but it should not be relied on as a suitable main food. Leaving food outside can also attract other animals and create problems for neighbours.

Do foxes eat cat food?
Yes. Foxes may eat accessible cat or dog food left outdoors. Bringing pet food inside after feeding and clearing away leftovers can help reduce this attraction.

Key Takeaways

Foxes in the UK are omnivores, eating both animal and plant foods.
Their diet can include small mammals, birds, eggs, insects, worms, fruit and carrion.
Urban foxes may also eat discarded food, pet food and other human-provided food sources.
Food availability varies with habitat, season and local conditions.
Securing rubbish, clearing food scraps and protecting poultry are practical ways to reduce potential problems.
Feeding foxes is not necessary for their survival and can have unwanted consequences.

Sources and Further Guidance

RSPCA – Foxes: facts, behaviour and habitats
The RSPCA explains the omnivorous diet of foxes, including natural prey, fruit and food found in urban environments.

The Wildlife Trusts – Red Fox
An overview of red fox ecology, habitats and feeding behaviour in Britain.

Fletcher et al. (2025) – Utilisation of Anthropogenic Food by Red Foxes in Britain as Determined by Stable Isotope Analysis
This peer-reviewed study investigates the contribution of human-derived food to urban and rural fox diets across Britain.

RSPCA – Foxes in the garden: how to help or deter them
Practical advice about garden visits, feeding foxes and reducing potential conflict around homes.

For more guidance on living alongside foxes, visit our fox guidance hub, where you can explore behaviour, prevention strategies, and UK wildlife law.