Fox vs. Wild Boar: Which Animal Would Win a Fight?

Written by Angie Menjivar
Updated: June 13, 2023
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When considering a fight between a gray fox and a wild boar, you have to consider the size difference. One is significantly bigger than the other. Their speed and their movements also come into play. Whereas both can reach high speeds, one is faster. That means it could potentially outrun the other. Their agility also comes into play because it determines how swiftly they move when defending and attacking.

Comparing a Gray Fox and a Wild Boar

Gray FoxWild Boar
Size40 inches long (including tail) Seven to 13 poundsFive feet long, three feet tall 75 to 250 pounds
Speed and MovementUp to 42 miles per hour (MPH), agile, jumps, and climbsUp to 30 miles per hour (MPH), jumps (up to three feet high)
DefensesSharp claws, and climbing up treesTusks, hooves, and fleeing
Offensive CapabilitiesPouncing, clawing, and bitingTusks, hooves
Predatory BehaviorAstute hearing, stalking, pouncing, and diggingOpportunistic omnivore

Key Factors in a Fight Between a Gray Fox and a Wild Boar

Gray Fox vs. Wild Boar: Size

A gray fox only grows up to 40 inches long, including its tail. A wild boar is a much larger animal that can weigh anywhere between 75 and 250 pounds. Wild boars also grow up to three feet tall and may be as much as five feet long. Standing next to each other, you could imagine that a gray fox doesn’t stand a chance. A body slam alone from a wild boar could send the gray fox flying.

A wild hog, or wild boar, in its natural habitat. These omnivorous animals have a strong sense of smell and sharp tusks used for defense.

Male feral swine. These omnivorous animals have a strong sense of smell and sharp tusks used for defense.

©Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com

Gray Fox vs. Wild Boar: Speed and Movement

Although wild boars are large, stocky animals, they are surprisingly agile. They move quickly, reaching speeds up to 30 MPH. They can also jump over obstacles three feet tall. When you look at a gray fox, you can assume that it is agile. It’s small and limber and moves quickly. A gray fox can reach speeds of up to 42 MPH! Not only are they fantastic runners, but they are also adept climbers. Sometimes, a gray fox is referred to as a tree fox. Using their sharp claws, they’re able to scale their way up a tree.

Gray Fox vs. Wild Boar: Defenses

The gray fox’s ability to climb up trees is one of its greatest defenses. If it spots a predator on the ground, it can scale up a tree to wait until it’s safe to get back on the ground. However, gray foxes are also equipped with sharp claws and sharp teeth so in the event that a gray fox may need to defend itself, these tools come in handy. Kind of like the gray fox, the wild boar’s instinct is to flee when it encounters a predator. Considering it can reach high speeds and jump over obstacles, fleeing is a great defense mechanism for a wild boar. However, in a confrontation, a wild boar may also use its tusks and its hooves.

Gray Fox vs. Wild Boar: Offensive Capabilities

Gray foxes attack their prey by pouncing, clawing, and biting. Wild boars are omnivores so many of their food sources like nuts, fallen fruits, and roots, don’t require special hunting skills. However, as needed, a wild boar may use its tusks and hooves to catch live prey like snakes, rodents, or birds.

Gray Fox vs. Wild Boar: Predatory Behavior

When a gray fox is hunting, it relies on its incredibly acute hearing abilities. First, they stalk their prey and then they either pounce on what they’ve found, or they dig to find it. A gray fox’s hearing is so good that it may even be able to pick up on small mammals like rodents and rabbits as they move in the ground beneath them. Wild boars are more opportunistic, snacking on whatever they find including acorns and fruits. But they also feed on carrion. If they find a dead animal, they stop to feast on it. They may also attack birds or eat larvae.

Fox scream at night - grey fox in tree

Gray foxes are excellent tree climbers.

©Danita Delimont/Shutterstock.com

Gray Fox vs. Wild Boar – Who Wins?

In the case of a gray fox versus a wild boar, a wild boar would win. A gray fox can recognize the massive size difference between itself and a wild boar. It’s unlikely that a gray fox would challenge a wild boar to the point that the two animals would fight it out to the death. The wild boar is much larger and stronger, towering over a gray fox. A gray fox would be wise to retreat and find its way up a tree where a wild boar wouldn’t be able to get to it.

With a wild boar able to achieve high speeds and its body mass being so much bigger than a gray fox, it could easily run into a gray fox and knock it down. An impact like that could seriously injure a gray fox. If a wild boar decided to engage its tusks and hooves, a gray fox would have to take the brunt of the beating. Although a gray fox does have sharp claws and can bite a wild boar, a wild boar has such thick skin that a gray fox would have trouble seriously injuring it.

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©


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About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

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