All About Fox Teeth and Why They’re Sharper Than You Think

A fox’s teeth are one of its more unique features. Although they’re omnivores, their canines resemble those of a carnivore, closely resembling those of a dog. They use their powerful jaws for various purposes, from hunting to chewing. Here’s everything you need to know about the incredible world of foxes and their teeth.

How Many Teeth Does a Fox Have?

The most common fox in North America is the red fox. This species is common in woodlands and forests and is often seen in rural towns. Many people are familiar with these foxes after seeing them in their backyards or while hiking. What you might not know, however, is that the red fox has even more teeth than a fully grown human. While we have 32 teeth in our adult mouths, the red fox has 42 once it is fully mature. Those 42 teeth consist of 10 molars, 16 premolars, 12 incisors, and four canines at the front of their mouths. You might notice similarities between a fox’s mouth and your pup’s because they’re almost identical. Despite the varied diet of the red fox, it belongs to the Canidae family, which includes dogs and wolves.

What Do Foxes Eat?

Foxes are fascinating because they’re opportunistic omnivores. They have the perfect trifecta for survival, being proficient hunters, foragers, and scavengers. In the wild, foxes eat a variety of edible plants and berries, including wild-grown berries and fruits or vegetables from accessible gardens. As hunters, they’re exceptionally skilled at taking down small prey, such as rabbits, rodents, and even birds. When scavenging in the wild, they seek out carrion or fresh carcasses.

In urban environments, foxes use somewhat unconventional hunting methods. While they still hunt rodents and other small mammals, they often resort to scavenging for food. Foxes are known to rummage through garbage and are not picky about what they find. They’re usually considered pests in home gardens because they’re not afraid to steal vegetables from the vine. Foxes sometimes eat insects, especially if they can find large crickets or beetles. Near waterways, foxes are adept at hunting frogs and snakes, while Arctic foxes prey on fish and are skilled foragers. In deserts, foxes have evolved to include lizards in their diets. The fox’s teeth have evolved alongside its diverse lifestyles, adapting to the different regions in which foxes live.

How Do Foxes Use Their Teeth?

The range of a fox’s diet means their teeth must be equally versatile. The most notable teeth in a fox’s mouth are its canines, which sit toward the front of its mouth. When hunting, these teeth are helpful in two ways: gripping and gouging. Like many other Canidae family predators, foxes bite to inflict fatal wounds. A fox targets the neck of a small animal, like a rabbit, using its canines to puncture the skin. The fox’s powerful jaws immobilize the animal, usually by breaking its neck, while its teeth cause deadly lacerations.

After the animal dies, the fox’s back teeth, known as molars, take over. These heavy-duty teeth gnash and crush food, making it easy to swallow and digest. The molars also help crush smaller prey, such as insects. When eating berries or vegetables, a fox’s molars and premolars work together to break down food before swallowing.

Do Foxes Use Their Teeth for Other Purposes?

The answer is yes, and once again, foxes are more similar to dogs and wolves than you might think. When a fox isn’t using its teeth to hunt or eat, it uses them to alleviate boredom. Just like your dog might chew on a toy when it’s bored, foxes do the same. In the wild and in captivity, foxes chew on sticks when restless. This is an oral fixation for an animal familiar with flexing its jaws. However, it’s also a way for the fox to keep itself occupied when not actively hunting. Some photographers have observed Arctic foxes chewing on sticks in the wild, indicating that it’s a species-wide phenomenon. For these versatile hunters, chewing on sticks could also help clean or sharpen their long canines. Another explanation is teething, which may explain why fox pups are often seen chewing on sticks.

Foxes also use their teeth for purposes unrelated to prey, eating, or playing. When a fox senses danger, it bares its teeth. This behavior may be a form of self-defense or a sign of aggression, but more often it serves as a warning to other animals that get too close. When baring its teeth, the fox curls its lips away to display its sharp canines as a means of intimidation.