Food items raccoons eat that foxes might also eat:
* Fruits and berries: Both animals enjoy sweet treats like berries, apples, and other fruits.
* Insects: Both animals are insect lovers and will gladly munch on beetles, crickets, and other insects.
* Small rodents: Both raccoons and foxes will hunt and eat small rodents like mice and voles.
* Eggs: They both enjoy stealing eggs from nests.
* Birdseed: Both will raid bird feeders for a snack.
* Carrion: They both scavenge on dead animals.
Food items raccoons eat that foxes are less likely to eat:
* Trash: Raccoons are notorious for digging through trash, which foxes generally avoid.
* Fish: Raccoons often forage for fish in streams and ponds, while foxes are less likely to do so.
* Crustaceans: Raccoons have been known to eat crabs and crayfish, which foxes rarely consume.
* Amphibians: Raccoons are more likely to eat frogs and salamanders than foxes.
Key differences in their diet:
* Raccoons are more adaptable: Raccoons are better at accessing food sources, even in urban areas, thanks to their dexterous paws and climbing skills. They are more likely to scavenge and eat unusual items found in garbage.
* Foxes are more reliant on hunting: Foxes are more skilled hunters and rely on their hunting skills for a larger portion of their diet, particularly for meat.
Overall, while there is significant overlap in their diets, raccoons are more adaptable and opportunistic, while foxes are more reliant on hunting.