Urban Foxes Rely on Humans for Nearly a Third of Their Diet, Study Reveals

City-dwelling foxes obtain over 30% of their sustenance from people, sparking worries that these animals might encounter health issues due to consuming processed edibles.

Scientists at Nottingham Trent University examined the whiskers of almost 100 foxes and found that food obtained directly or indirectly from humans constituted 35% of urban fox diets, whereas this figure was just 6% for rural foxes.

Foxes include a variety of edibles such as small mammals, birds, beetles, grubs, and worms along with fruits and carrion.

Especially in urban areas, these animals take advantage of food resources provided by humans, such as thrown-away dishes and scraps, along with items intended for wild creatures like cat and dog chow, uneaten table foods, and seeds meant for birds.

However, the researchers cautioned that processed foods, which contain high amounts of saturated fats and refined sugars and grains while offering limited fiber and micronutrient content, might result in adverse health effects for foxes.

The research involved analyzing the chemicals in the whiskers of 93 deceased foxes collected from various locations. Britain To disclose what they had consumed over several weeks to months, as their hair developed, instead of obtaining just a single moment in time data from examining stomach content or fecal matter.

The study revealed that human food constituted 16% of the urban fox diet, whereas pet food represented 19%. In contrast, rural foxes consumed only 2.5% human food and 3.5% pet food.

In general, both urban and rural foxes obtained the largest portion of their nutrition from birds, with this dietary component comprising almost one-third (32%) of the intake for countryside foxes.

In the countryside, foxes obtained 32% of their sustenance from mammals, 26% from fruits, and 4% from invertebrates.

However, even though birds made up slightly more than one-fifth (22%) of the urban foxes' diet, their consumption of pet food at 19% came as a very close second.

Fruit Accounted for 17% of the urban fox diet, mammals also comprised 16%, similar to human food, and invertebrates constituted 10%.

The study also indicated that female foxes might consume more food provided by humans compared to males, potentially as they leverage plentiful human food sources during the period when they're nurturing their young.

Nottingham Trent University’s Professor Dawn Scott, who led the study, commented, "While urban foxes do consume various natural food sources, our research indicated fewer instances of these natural foods alongside an increased intake of human-provided diets. This can encompass highly processed foods, leftovers, or commercially produced items not meant for wild animals."

This does not imply that every human-made food will lack essential nutrients, however, considering how processed foods often contain elevated levels of saturated fats and refined sugars, it wouldn’t be unfounded to propose that some portion of these food sources might offer suboptimal nutritional value for wild animals.

Dr. Jonathan Fletcher from Nottingham Trent University commented, "Foods derived from humans or 'anthropogenic' foods have been linked to negative health effects in species that eat them; thus, it’s crucial to assess how prevalent these items are in the diets of British foxes."

A diet rich in human-provided food might lead to poor outcomes as these foods could fail to meet their nutritional needs, consequently affecting their physical health and potentially increasing their vulnerability to diseases.

He indicated that additional research was necessary to grasp the possible health effects of their dietary habits; however, he cautioned that these implications would disproportionately impact urban and female foxes.

The research, which additionally included contributions from the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the University of Brighton, and the University of Glasgow is featured in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

The Independent stands out as the globe’s premier source of unbiased journalism, offering international news, opinions, and insights tailored for those with independent minds. With an extensive reach across borders, we attract a vast audience of people who appreciate our reliable perspective and dedication to fostering positive transformation. Today more than ever, our purpose—to drive meaningful progress—remains crucial.