Do Foxes Eat Eagles? (Yes. They Do)

Foxes are medium-sized and smaller than fully-grown eagles. They are omnivorous mammals and belong to the family Canidae. Foxes are found in most regions, including Asia, North Africa, North America, Canada, and Alaska. They inhibit forests that are full of animals like eagles. But do foxes eat eagles?

Foxes are tiny and considered to be shy animals, they eat almost everything, but some animals are challenging to kill and eat. That’s why we have taken extra steps and answered some of the questions you could have. Keep reading to learn more.

Read: Do Foxes Eat Hawks? 

Contents

Can a Fox Eat up an Eagle?

Yes, a fox can eat up an eagle. Foxes are omnivorous animals and, most of all, opportunistic feeders. They eat anything edible that comes their way, including eagles and other predatory birds. But some animals, like eagles, are hard to hunt and kill. The foxes will only kill a weak eagle, injured, or that which is dead.

Eagles are dangerous predators that hunt and kill foxes as part of their diet. So imagine a healthy bald eagle coming across a fox. The fox will never love what might happen. Eagles are very aggressive attackers that can attack prey by surprise. 

Although the foxes belong to the family of wolves, they are not smart and strong enough to take down healthy eagles for food. Eaglets are more susceptible to foxes because they are defenceless and unable to fly. And a fox will only attack the eaglet when left unattended by its parents.

What Do Foxes Eat?

Foxes eat various foods like rodents, rabbits, birds, earthworms, insects, and frogs. They are expert hunters and feed on what they can kill. Although they mostly feed on meat from other animals, they are not carnivores. Foxes are omnivores, so they also dine on fruits and berries.

However, the primary diet of foxes depends on the region it occupies. If it inhabits a place full of small animals, its primary diet will be meat. But for the sake of the foxes residing in urban areas, they eat anything in the garbage, whether vegetables, food leftovers, or anything edible they find. These urban foxes also scavenge on rats and pigeons. 

Like the other animals in its family, their cubs visit this world when blind. The cubs entirely depend on their mothers for milk, just like the puppies from domesticated dogs. They consume solid foods after four weeks from birth and completely wean after 12 weeks. 

Other Animals That Eat Eagles

Animals that eagles are big cats like cougars and tigers, hawks, snakes, wolves, bears, and eagles. When dead, they are eaten by scavengers like hyenas and vultures. Most predators target the eagle nest, where they’ll find the eaglets. Eaglets are defenceless and an easy target for these predators when left unattended. Most of the predators targeting the nest are the tree climbers.

It’s not easy for other predators to kill adult eagles. Have very defensive features like strong talons and curved beaks, which are sharp and can tear out the flesh. For a predator to take down a fully ground, eagles should be prepared for the fight.

Eagles are dangerous not only to other animals but also to human beings. A Bald eagle, for example, can carry a human baby as long as it fits in the talon. So what could it do to animals like the foxes?

Eagles are apex predators. Although higher in the food chain, they also prey on other animals. Sometimes eagles get into fights with each other, and the weak end up being the next meal for the other one. 

Eagles can become weak in case of hunger or get injuries from fights with other eagles. These eagles are a great opportunity for most scavengers to attend their meal. During the dry season, the prey population reduces. During this time, eagles can go hungry for days and eventually become very weak to fly. If they miss food for a long time, they become too weak to fly, fall to the ground, or die in their nest. 

fox-eating-prey

What Do Foxes Hate?

Foxes hate surprises, sudden movements, loud noises, vibrations, and flashlights. If you want to deter foxes from your garden, try to make the garden less appealing. It is possible if you install things that the foxes hate. 

The named methods are all-natural; they do not need you to kill the fox or cause injuries. Rural and urban foxes are disadvantageous to our gardens at times. You can also use smells that foxes do not like to deter. You can use capsaicin, garlic, chilli pepper, and other chemical compounds. You can sprinkle these ingredients around your garden; the foxes will not come near the garden or home. 

And because foxes hate surprises, you can install lights that use motion detectors around your home or gardens. The immediate lighting of the garden, when they come too close to the motion sensors, deters them away. Another suitable method is also installing sprinklers with motion detectors. Foxes hate water sprayed on their bodies. Foxes will always avoid gardens that have sprinklers. 

Are Foxes Dangerous?

Foxes are not dangerous. They are shy animals and rarely attack humans. A fox will always run to the other side whenever it comes across a person. But never underestimate them. Like any animal in the wild, foxes are defensive when threatened and will always bite as a defensive mechanism to let it go. 

Although not dangerous to humans, they are disastrous to vegetables and other farm produce like berries and fruits. Foxes are also dangerous to other domesticated animals like rabbits. A fox will always stay in the neighborhood until when it finds the right time to attack and kill anything in your home that is small and edible.

Foxes resemble coyotes and wolves. Their body features like similar, and they eat almost the same diet. And because they eat animal flesh, their jaws are well-adapted and can deliver massive injuries when threatened. So it’s better to scare them off than to capture them.

Can Foxes Be Pets?

Foxes do not make great pets, and it’s illegal in some states to keep a fox as a pet. Foxes are wild creatures and not suitable for domestication. Foxes are not dogs, although they are close relatives. They have different characteristics that make them not suitable for domestication.

Sometimes when the foxes are not fed enough, they become disastrous to vegetables around your home, so foxes never do well as indoor animals. Foxes resist training; although you may teach them how to use a litter box, some will always make territories with their urine, eventually making your home smelly.

If you’re to domesticate a fox, do the training when it’s still a cub. Foxes do not like walking on a leash. In short, foxes are not good animals to keep as pets. 

Can Foxes Climb Trees and Fences?

True foxes cannot climb trees or fences. There are only two members in the Canidae family that can climb objects. They include the Grey fox and raccoon dog. Grey foxes belong to a separate genus from red foxes. 

There are approximately 16 subspecies, and when you look closely at them, they look exactly like the red foxes. Grey foxes have remarkable differences; they have coarse black hairs at the tip of their tail and have a stockier build. 

True foxes are not climbers like the grey foxes. But they are smart, agile and can jump six feet fences. True foxes have strong and long hind limbs, which help them hop around the ground and chase their prey. When jumping, they use their tails for balance. However, true foxes can leap from branch to branch, although they are not good climbers.  

Although red foxes have claws, they cannot use them to climb trees like grey foxes because fox claws are well adapted for digging burrows and holding prey but not for climbing. Grey foxes can best escape larger predators by climbing high in the tree branches.

In places where coyotes are many, grey foxes can survive because they constantly seek refuge in trees and bushes. Red foxes fall prey to most predators because they are always on the ground with predators like cougars and wolves.

Conclusion

Foxes are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything edible, including eagles. It’s challenging for foxes to hunt down eagles. Instead, eagles hunt foxes for food. Weak, injured or young eagles are a great feast for the foxes. Foxes are omnivorous creatures, and their primary diet depends on their location.

Urban foxes eat whatever they find in the dustbins. At the same time, wild foxes dine on smaller animals like mice, rabbits and squirrels. Eagles, conversely, are the apex predators and a great threat to foxes.

Disclaimer: This blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. The content published on this blog is for informational purposes only. Please always consult with a licensed and local veterinarian for medical advice.

About Shaun Clarke

Shaun is passionate about pets and animals, especially dogs, cats, and rabbits. He owns a dog and a couple of cats too. He loves visiting wildlife sanctuaries and shares a strong bond with animals. When he is not writing, he loves to do a barbecue in the backyard with his family and friends.