Leena Watts
Coyotes are omnivores with a highly carnivorous diet, and their eating habits vary depending on their location. They are scavengers and hunters of small animals, but they will occasionally hunt larger prey. Their diet includes small rodents, deer, rabbits, insects, birds, fish, amphibians, and fruits. In urban areas, they may also eat human food and garbage. Coyotes are known to be opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat whatever is available, and their diet can provide insight into their impact on other species in the ecosystem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dietary flexibility | High |
| Diet composition | Mammals, insects, amphibians, fish, small reptiles, birds, fruits, grass, vegetables, and carrion |
| Preferred prey | Small mammals like rabbits and rodents |
| Other prey | Frogs, fish, snakes, insects, fruits, grass, birds, larger mammals like deer |
| Human food | Human food can attract coyotes and they do not hesitate to rummage through garbage |
| Scavenging | Coyotes are scavengers and will feed on carrion |
| Hunting | Coyotes typically hunt individually or in pairs |
| Hunting speed | Coyotes can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour |
| Mutualistic relationship | American badgers assist coyotes in hunting rodents |
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What You'll Learn
Coyotes are scavengers and hunters of small animals, but will occasionally hunt larger prey
Coyotes are highly adaptable, omnivorous eaters with a broad and variable diet. They are proficient hunters and scavengers, feeding on small animals and occasionally hunting larger prey. Their diet includes a variety of mammals, ranging from small rodents to larger mammals such as deer and moose. Coyotes also consume birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. In addition, they eat fruits, grass, and even human food and garbage in urban areas.
Coyotes are medium-sized members of the dog family, which includes wolves and foxes. They have pointed ears, a slender muzzle, and a drooping bushy tail, often resembling a German shepherd or collie. Coyotes are typically grayish-brown with reddish tinges and yellow eyes. They weigh between 25-35 pounds, with some individuals reaching up to 42 pounds.
As hunters, coyotes can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour and use their keen senses of sight, smell, and hearing to pursue prey. They typically hunt individually or in pairs and are known for their distinctive howling and yapping, especially during the nighttime. While they are generally fearful of humans and avoid them, they may become habituated if they are fed or have access to human food sources.
The diet of coyotes can vary based on their habitat and the availability of prey. In one study of coyote scat in the Chicago metropolitan area, small rodents were found in 42% of samples, fruit in 23%, deer in 22%, and rabbit in 18%. Another study in Ohio found that over 40% of coyote scats contained evidence of rodents, while deer made up 22% and fruits 22.7%. These studies highlight the importance of small rodents in the coyote diet and their role in pest control.
While coyotes primarily hunt small animals, they will occasionally take down larger prey. They have been known to hunt in packs to take down larger ungulates and can even cannibalize the carcasses of other coyotes. Coyotes are opportunistic feeders, shifting their diets to take advantage of the most available prey. This adaptability has contributed to their successful expansion across North and Central America.
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Rodents, rabbits, and deer are common food items
Coyotes are omnivores, but their diet is predominantly carnivorous. They are scavengers and hunters of small animals, but they occasionally hunt larger prey. Their diet is flexible and can include a variety of food items, depending on their habitat and availability.
Rodents are a common food item for coyotes. In fact, they are nearly always present in their diet, according to some sources. This includes mice, chipmunks, squirrels, and voles. One study in the Midwest found that over 40% of coyote scats showed signs of rodents, while another study in Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park found that nearly a third of scat samples contained remains of just one rodent species, the meadow vole. Coyotes also cooperate with American badgers to hunt rodents, increasing their catch rate by 33%.
Rabbits are another important food source for coyotes. They are considered small prey and are a significant part of the coyote's diet, especially in urban and suburban areas. A study of coyote diet in the Chicago metropolitan area found that rabbits made up 18% of their food items. Eastern cottontail rabbits are specifically selected by coyotes, according to a study using the Jacobs' index method.
Deer are also a common food item for coyotes. While they are considered larger prey, coyotes typically hunt fawns and take advantage of scavenging opportunities such as roadkill. A study in the Midwest revealed that deer made up 22% of the diet of coyotes in the region. Another study found that White-tailed Deer were specifically selected by coyotes. In Ohio, deer are still an important food source, but it is unlikely that coyotes frequently hunt adult deer.
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They eat a variety of fruits and plants
Coyotes are omnivores and highly carnivorous, with a diet consisting of about 90% meat. They are also adaptable and opportunistic feeders, and their diet varies depending on the availability of prey and food sources. While they are primarily scavengers and hunters of small animals, they occasionally hunt larger prey. They also eat a variety of fruits and plants, which can make up a significant portion of their diet in some regions.
In some areas, coyotes may consume a variety of fruits, including cactus fruit in the desert and ornamental fruits from people's yards. They also eat crops, as well as seeds and husks from fruits, which have been found in their droppings. A study of coyote diet in the Midwest found that fruits made up about 22.7% of their diet. Another study in Ohio found that fruits were present in about 23% of coyote scats.
The consumption of plants by coyotes includes grass and vegetables. Additionally, they eat a variety of insects, such as grasshoppers and beetles, and their exoskeletons have been found in coyote droppings. Coyotes also feed on invertebrates and herpetofauna, which include amphibians like frogs.
Coyotes have a broad and variable diet, and their ability to adapt their eating habits has contributed to their successful expansion into new territories. While they are known to scavenge on garbage and human food in urban areas, the majority of their diet in natural habitats consists of small mammals, rodents, rabbits, and deer, with fruits and plants making up a significant but smaller portion of their overall diet.
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Coyotes are omnivores, but highly carnivorous
Coyotes are omnivores, but their diet consists predominantly of meat. They are highly carnivorous, with their diet being around 90% meat. They are adaptable hunters, with a preference for small animals like mice, squirrels, rabbits, and rodents. Coyotes are also known to scavenge and will eat larger prey, such as deer, on occasion. They are proficient hunters, reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. They are typically solitary hunters, but they can also hunt in packs, particularly when targeting larger ungulates.
The coyote's diet varies depending on its habitat and the availability of prey. They are opportunistic feeders, consuming insects, amphibians, fish, small reptiles, birds, and fruits. In urban areas, coyotes may feed on human food, garbage, and even pets. They are known to rummage through rubbish bins and spilled garbage, attracted by the smell of food. Coyote poop, or scat, is often studied to understand their diet, as it contains preserved food items such as bones, seeds, and insect exoskeletons.
The presence of other predators, such as wolves and pumas, can influence the coyote's prey selection. Coyotes tend to avoid areas with wolf populations as they can outcompete and even prey on coyotes. However, in some cases, coyotes can obtain a significant portion of their diet from prey killed by pumas. This adaptability in their diet allows coyotes to expand their range and play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
While coyotes are known for their distinctive howling, they make a variety of other sounds, including yips, barks, and growls, which are thought to be part of a complex language. They are generally fearful of humans and tend to avoid them, but habituation can occur if humans feed them intentionally or unintentionally. To prevent this, it is important to secure potential food sources and keep pets indoors, especially in areas with coyote populations.
Coyotes carry a significant number of diseases and parasites, which can be spread through their diet. Viral diseases carried by coyotes include rabies, canine distemper, and equine encephalitis. They also host and spread parasitic worms, with a large percentage of coyotes found to have tapeworms. Understanding the diet of coyotes is crucial for managing the potential impacts on other species and maintaining healthy ecosystems.
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They are adaptable eaters and will eat human food and garbage
Coyotes are highly adaptable eaters and will readily consume human food and garbage. They are omnivores, but their diet is predominantly carnivorous, with meat making up around 90% of their food intake. They are proficient hunters, reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour when chasing prey. Coyotes typically hunt small mammals, such as rabbits, rodents, and other small animals like mice, chipmunks, and squirrels. However, they will also scavenge for food, and their opportunistic nature means they will eat whatever is available, including human food scraps and garbage.
In urban and suburban areas, coyotes have been known to rummage through trash bins, bird feeders, and spilled garbage, as well as accessible food containers. They are attracted to a variety of human foods, including bread and seeds intended for birds. Additionally, they may feed on ornamental fruits from people's yards. This adaptability in their diet has contributed to their successful expansion into new territories.
The analysis of coyote scat (fecal matter) provides valuable insights into their dietary habits. Scat analysis has revealed that coyotes consume a diverse range of food items, including small rodents, fruits, deer, and rabbits. The presence of fast-food wrappers in urban coyote scat further emphasizes their willingness to consume human food and garbage.
While coyotes primarily hunt small prey, they occasionally shift to larger prey. They are known to hunt in packs or alone, and they will only attack larger animals, such as ungulates, when in a group. Coyotes also have a mutualistic relationship with American badgers, working together to hunt rodents, which comprise a significant portion of their diet.
The adaptability of coyotes in their feeding habits is a key factor in their survival and expansion. They are versatile and opportunistic, taking advantage of the most available food sources, whether it be small mammals, insects, fruits, or human food waste. This dietary flexibility allows them to thrive in a wide range of habitats, from rural areas to urban landscapes.
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Frequently asked questions
Coyotes are omnivores with a highly carnivorous diet. They are scavengers and hunters of small animals, but they will occasionally hunt larger prey. Their diet is very broad and variable and consists of a variety of different prey depending on where they live.
Coyotes eat small mammals like rabbits and rodents (including mice, chipmunks, squirrels, and meadow voles). They also eat insects like grasshoppers and beetles.
Larger mammals in a coyote's diet include deer, elk, bighorn sheep, bison, and even adult moose. They also eat rabbits and birds such as thrashers, sparrows, and wild turkeys.
Coyotes eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, including cactus fruit, peaches, blackberries, pears, blueberries, apples, carrots, cantaloupe, watermelon, and peanuts.
Urban coyotes are known to scavenge for food in garbage bins and will eat human food. They have also been known to eat pets such as cats and small dogs.
