Brenda Khan
Coyotes are omnivores with a highly varied diet, eating both meat and plants. They are scavengers and hunters of small animals, but they will occasionally hunt larger prey. Their diet is influenced by what is readily available in their territories, and they will eat human food if it is accessible. They are adaptable eaters, consuming everything from garbage in cities to cactus fruit in the desert.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet | Opportunistic predators, scavengers, and hunters of small animals |
| Diet composition | 60-90% meat, 10-40% plants and fruits |
| Prey | Insects, amphibians, fish, small reptiles, birds, rodents, larger mammals (deer, elk, sheep, bison, moose) |
| Preferred prey | Dall's sheep, white-tailed deer, eastern cottontail rabbit, California vole |
| Food sources | Scavenging (roadkill, garbage), hunting, plants and fruits |
| Dietary variation | Seasonal changes, availability of food sources, anthropogenic and environmental factors |
| Parasites | Tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms |
| Diseases | Rabies, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, equine encephalitis, oral papillomatosis |
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What You'll Learn
Meat and small animals
Coyotes are omnivores and scavengers, and their diet is very broad and variable. They are adaptable eaters, consuming everything from garbage in cities to cactus fruit in the desert. They will eat just about anything and change their diet based on what is available in their territories, which can be up to 2.5 square miles. They are also known to eat human food, as they are attracted to the smell of certain foods and will rummage through garbage.
Coyotes prefer eating meat, and their diet is about 90% meat. They mostly eat small animals like mice, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and other rodents. They also hunt larger prey occasionally, such as deer, elk, bighorn sheep, bison, and moose. Coyotes have a mutualistic relationship with American badgers, who assist in digging up rodents during hunting. This cooperation increases their catch rate by 33%.
In addition to meat, coyotes also consume insects such as grasshoppers and beetles, as well as a variety of fruits and vegetables. They eat peaches, blackberries, pears, blueberries, apples, carrots, cantaloupe, watermelon, and peanuts. They also eat grass and grain, especially in the winter. Seasonal changes affect their diet, and they will take advantage of scavenging opportunities like roadkill.
Coyote poop, or scat, can provide scientists with a lot of information about their diet. In wild areas, coyote scat contains the bones of small mammals, seeds, and insect exoskeletons. However, in urban and suburban areas, it can be harder to determine their diet as human food is highly digestible and leaves little evidence in their scat.
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Fruits and vegetables
Coyotes are omnivores and highly adaptable, so they can eat a wide variety of foods and change their diet based on what is available. While they are primarily carnivorous, they do eat a significant amount of fruits and vegetables.
In the wild, coyotes eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, especially berries, in autumn and winter when the fruit is in season. They also eat grasses, wheat, grains, acorns, and beechnuts. They have been known to eat cactus fruit in the desert, and even ornamental fruit from people's yards. They also eat a variety of vegetables, including carrots, cantaloupe, and watermelon.
Coyotes are attracted to areas with bird feeders, bread, and seeds. They will also enter yards with pet food, compost piles, and uncleaned outdoor grills. They are known to raid chicken coops and other poultry enclosures in search of a meal.
While coyotes are primarily meat-eaters, their diet is not solely comprised of animal matter. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat whatever is available, including fruits, vegetables, and other plant matter. This adaptability has allowed them to expand their range and succeed in a variety of habitats.
In terms of the specific types of fruits and vegetables that coyotes consume, they are known to eat berries such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. They also eat peaches, pears, apples, and peanuts. Additionally, they consume grasses, grains, and nuts. While the exact composition of their diet may vary depending on the season and geographic location, fruits and vegetables play an important role in the nutritional intake of coyotes.
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Human food and garbage
Urban coyotes have become accustomed to scavenging for food in human neighbourhoods, which has led to a shift in their eating habits. They consume discarded human food, such as food scraps, wrappers, plastic bottle caps, coffee cups, and even non-edible items like leather gloves. This reliance on human food has resulted in bolder behaviour and increased health issues in coyotes. The consumption of highly processed human food, including fast food, junk food, sweets, and high-carb items, has led to malnutrition, digestive issues, weakened immune systems, and an increased susceptibility to parasites and illnesses.
The availability of human food has also impacted the hunting behaviour of coyotes. As scavenging requires less effort than hunting, some urban coyotes have reduced their hunting activities, affecting the population control of prey species such as mice, rabbits, and rats. Additionally, the change in diet has altered the gut microbiome of coyotes, leading to health issues and potentially influencing their behaviour.
To discourage coyotes from relying on human food and garbage, it is essential to secure garbage and compost bins and remove potential food sources from properties. By reducing the availability of human food, we can encourage coyotes to remain in natural habitats and return to their carnivore diets, reducing potential encounters and interactions with humans.
While coyotes are adaptable and opportunistic, the consumption of human food and garbage has negative consequences for their health and behaviour. It is crucial to take preventive measures to ensure the well-being of both coyote populations and humans living in nearby areas.
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Insects and invertebrates
Coyotes are omnivores but highly carnivorous, with their diet consisting of about 90% meat. Insects and invertebrates are among the many types of prey that make up the remaining 10% of their diet.
Coyotes are known to eat a variety of insects, although specific species have not been identified. They are also known to eat other invertebrates, such as snails and slugs. These invertebrates are an important source of protein for coyotes, especially when small mammal populations decrease in the winter and spring.
Coyotes are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat whatever is available. They are also adaptable, allowing them to inhabit different environments, including those urbanized by humans. This adaptability extends to their diet, which varies depending on their location. For example, coyotes in urban areas may be attracted to human food sources, such as garbage, bread, and birdseed.
Coyotes are also known to carry a variety of parasites, such as mites, ticks, fleas, lice, and worms. These parasites can be spread to coyotes through their diet, such as by feeding on infected cattle. In turn, coyotes can spread these parasites to other animals and even humans.
The coyote's diet of insects and invertebrates is an important aspect of its overall diet and plays a role in maintaining the ecosystem. By preying on these smaller creatures, coyotes help to control their populations and provide a food source for other animals that depend on them.
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Mammals and rodents
Coyotes are omnivores and scavengers, and their diet is largely dependent on what is readily available in their territories. They are adaptable eaters, consuming everything from garbage in cities to cactus fruit in the desert. While they prefer meat, their diet is about 90% meat and 10% fruits, vegetables, and other plant matter. They are also known to eat human food in suburban and urban areas, although this is harder to detect in their scat.
Coyotes are hunters of small animals, and their diet includes various mammals and rodents. In the wild, they mostly eat small mammals like mice, chipmunks, squirrels, and rabbits. They also occasionally hunt larger mammals such as deer, elk, bighorn sheep, bison, and moose. In Ohio, a study found that deer made up 22% of coyote scat, while another study in the same state found that nearly a third of scat samples contained evidence of just one rodent species, the meadow vole. Coyotes also have a mutualistic relationship with American badgers, who assist in digging up rodents during hunting. This cooperation increases their catch rate by 33%.
Coyotes have been observed eating fresh green grasses, bark, twigs, and wild radish roots. They also eat insects like grasshoppers and beetles, as well as a variety of fruits. In the wild, their scat contains the bones of small mammals, seeds, and husks from fruit, and insect exoskeletons. Seasonal changes in flora and fauna affect their diet, with stretches of scat appearing predominantly fruit-based in early summer and fall.
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Frequently asked questions
Coyotes eat a variety of things, including small animals like mice, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles, birds, and larger mammals like deer. They also eat fruits, vegetables, and plants.
Yes, coyotes have been known to eat human food, especially in urban and suburban areas. They may eat from garbage cans or even rummage through spilled garbage.
It is estimated that a coyote's diet is about 90% meat, with the remaining 10% consisting of fruits, vegetables, and plants.
Coyotes can hunt either alone or in packs. When hunting larger prey, they will usually attack in a pack.
Coyotes carry more diseases and parasites than any other carnivore in North America. Some of the viral diseases they carry include rabies, canine distemper, and canine hepatitis.
