The sight of multiple deceased animals left uneaten by a predator often leads to the public belief that the wild animal, such as a coyote, is killing for enjoyment. This interpretation projects complex human motivations onto the purely instinctual behaviors of a wild canid. Understanding this behavior requires examining the event through the lens of ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior. These actions are biological responses to an unusual set of circumstances in the animal’s environment.
Surplus Killing Explained
The behavior that generates the most confusion is scientifically termed “surplus killing.” This is the act of a predator killing more prey during a single hunting episode than it can immediately consume. This phenomenon is observed across many carnivorous species, including weasels, bears, wolves, and coyotes.
The motivation behind surplus killing is not rooted in malice or entertainment, but is instead an automatic, hard-wired predatory response. When a predator’s hunting sequence is initiated, the instinct to kill a vulnerable target is not immediately shut off by satiation or fullness. The simple presence of accessible prey often overrides the hunger drive, causing the coyote to continue its predatory sequence until the environmental stimulus—the presence of prey—is removed.
Instinctual Triggers and Opportunity
Surplus killing is an opportunistic exception to normal hunting, triggered by a rare combination of high prey density and extreme vulnerability. This is most frequently observed when coyotes gain access to confined livestock, such as penned sheep, goats, or poultry. These animals have lost their natural anti-predator defenses. Because the prey cannot disperse or escape, the coyote’s predatory instinct remains highly activated, causing it to continue killing the available targets.
The behavior is also closely linked to the coyote’s evolutionary programming, specifically their instinct to cache, or store, food for future consumption. In the wild, when an animal successfully takes down a large or abundant food source, it will often bury portions to ensure a food supply during times of scarcity. The drive to secure food when conditions are optimal is a powerful survival mechanism, and a sudden abundance of vulnerable prey triggers this impulse to “stockpile” resources.
Furthermore, this behavior can serve as a form of practice, particularly for younger, less experienced coyotes. These events offer a low-risk opportunity for developing and refining their killing techniques. The combination of an easy, non-threatening target and an innate drive to kill can bypass the usual energy expenditure calculation that would typically limit the number of kills to immediate necessity. Surplus killing of wild prey is rare, but the combination of domestic prey vulnerability and the instinct to cache makes the behavior a predictable outcome.
Typical Coyote Hunting Behavior
In contrast to the extreme circumstances that result in surplus killing, the coyote’s routine hunting behavior is highly pragmatic and centered on sustenance. As highly adaptable omnivores, coyotes primarily hunt alone or in pairs. They focus on small, readily available prey that offers a reliable caloric return for the energy spent. A significant portion of their diet consists of small mammals, such as voles, mice, and rabbits, which they hunt using a characteristic pounce.
Coyotes also regularly consume insects, fruits, and berries, particularly during the warmer months, and they scavenge on carrion, or animal carcasses. The average coyote typically weighs between 20 and 45 pounds, which influences their hunting strategy. They generally avoid larger, more dangerous prey unless the prey is sick, injured, or very young. This calculated, day-to-day routine demonstrates that their standard mode of operation is efficient foraging.