Foxes are known as expert hunters,however most people think that they hunt only at night which often is not the case.

In this article We will see when exactly foxes come out to explore & Hunt,

Is it common for them to come out during the day and if so what do they do during the day.

Most importantly we will see If they are dangerous to humans during the day or night.

When do Foxes Come Out

Most foxes are nocturnal, they come out and hunt during night and sleep during the day. Others are crepuscular, coming out at sundown and in twilight hours. However, if hungry they will also come out during daylight, any time in the day.

This happens very often when they have new-born babies and when they need to feed them. During such time foxes may also reach residential areas in the countryside in order to prey on small domesticated animals and birds.

When Do Foxes Come Out to Hunt and Eat

Majority of the fox species come out to hunt and eat during night, early in the morning or late in the evening. However, it is not uncommon to see foxes during day time. Specially when they have new-born children to feed in their den, foxes may come out in desperation, during the day.

They can be active during the day but hunt most commonly at dawn and dusk. Foxes remain active throughout the year and do not hibernate.

When Do Foxes Come Out at Night

Foxes start coming out late in the afternoon, around dusk, when it starts getting darker. They remain outside, and hunt and eat during night, until dawn.

Do Foxes Attack Humans at Night

Foxes do not attack humans, during night or day. Such attacks are very rare. However, when in severe danger, they are known to attack human beings. Some cases have been reported about a fox attacking small children, but there are not many incidences when that happens. In some of those cases, the fox may only be acting territorial, while in others defending itself.

Also Read: Will A Fox Attack A Small Dog

Are Foxes Dangerous During the Day

Foxes are not dangerous, rather, they are known to get scared quite easily. Unlike other animals, foxes do not hunt or attack in groups. Individual foxes hunt more like cats, waiting and then slowly and quietly going within a very close distance of the prey. The fox then jumps on its prey and pins its prey with paws to kill it.

Foxes have a natural fear of people. Recently, my sister had bought a few hens in the countryside. One day the hens were making all kind of noises and when she went out, she saw three hens killed and the rest running and flying for refuge from a fox. Seeing my niece who came out shouting, the fox fled without even picking a single hen that it had killed.

So, if there is a fox outside during the day, there is no reason to be alarmed. It will most certainly run away from you as it hears your voice or detects your presence. If it doesn’t run away immediately, the fox may have learned to live close to people, likely because someone may have been feeding it, and therefore, it may show some boldness or might even come close to you.

Nevertheless, they are easily scared away if you make loud noise, yell or blow whistles, pouring water on them or throwing objects such as pebble or a ball.

Where Do Foxes Go During the Day?

Foxes mostly sleep during the daylight hours. They are not social during the day; however, it is not unusual to see them. They may come out to attack domestic animals in the countryside when they are very hungry.

Also, recently foxes in certain urban settings, have been reported to come searching for food in the day. This is because they are forced out of their natural habitat and must adapt new hunting habits to find food and survive.

Old reports claim that fox may come out in daylight if it has a disease, such as rabies or other health issues, which can be the case sometimes. However, now that animals are forced from forests due to housing expansion by humans it is quite common to see a fox come out in the day, especially in urban areas.

Comparison between Foxes and Fox Cubs

Red Foxes

Red foxes sleep during the day; however, it is not uncommon to see one in daylight. Red foxes are predominantly nocturnal and come out of their den late in the evening to hunt and eat and they remain outside until the early morning hours; consequently, they have more food in their stomachs at night compared to daytime and prefer resting during the day.

Also, red foxes have incredible skills to hunt and for capture their prey during the night. They are one of the largest foxes and have the capability to hold their position as a carnivorous predator in the animal food chain.

Grey Foxes

Like other foxes, grey foxes can be seen outside in the daylight but that is very rare. Grey foxes are also nocturnal and hunt mostly during the night. However, they do come out during day time, especially in cloudy days and during twilight.

Grey foxes are also called tree foxes as they are the only species to have the ability to climb trees. If they suspect a predator nearby, they can jump into a tree to evade them. Red fox counts on its skills and speed in order to stay safe from predators during night.

Baby Foxes

Baby foxes are born blind and remain like that for a few days. Therefore, they must remain in their den to stay safe from predators and too much daylight. When they grow a little older, the baby foxes enjoy coming out during day and playing around.

But they mostly stay around their den. They start going out to hunt during night once they grow older enough to do so.