Coyotes are highly adaptable and opportunistic predators. Their wide-ranging diet allows them to thrive in diverse North American environments, from Alaska to Costa Rica. They inhabit various ecosystems including deserts, forests, grasslands, and urban areas. This flexibility in food choices is key to their widespread success.
Mainstays of Their Diet
Coyotes are omnivores, but their diet primarily consists of meat, often making up about 90% of their food intake. Small mammals, such as mice, voles, gophers, and ground squirrels, form a significant portion of what coyotes actively hunt. A single coyote can consume over 1,000 rodents annually, showcasing their role in pest control.
Lagomorphs, like rabbits and hares, are also frequently hunted. While coyotes typically hunt individually for smaller prey, they may hunt in packs for larger animals. Fawns, or young deer, are a common target, and coyotes are responsible for a significant percentage of white-tailed deer fawn mortalities in some regions. Coyotes also prey on sick or injured adult deer, or readily scavenge carcasses. Their diet includes small birds, their eggs, reptiles like snakes and lizards, amphibians such as frogs, and fish and crustaceans when available.
Beyond the Hunt: Opportunistic Foods
Coyotes are highly opportunistic feeders, consuming whatever is available in their environment beyond active hunting. Carrion, or dead animals, forms a considerable part of their diet, particularly during winter when other food sources may be scarce. Their robust digestive system can handle decomposing meat and associated diseases, making them effective natural clean-up agents.
Insects are another common food source, especially during warmer months. Coyotes consume a variety of insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, and crickets.
Plant matter also contributes to their omnivorous diet. Coyotes eat various fruits, berries, nuts, and seeds, such as peaches, blackberries, and juniper berries. They also consume grass and grains, particularly in winter, when other foods are less abundant.
Factors Influencing Their Menu
A coyote’s diet is dynamic and influenced by several environmental factors. Seasonal changes significantly impact food availability and, consequently, their diet. For instance, soft-mast fruits and insects are more prevalent in summer and autumn, while carrion and larger prey like deer fawns become more important in winter or during the fawning season.
Geographical location and habitat type also shape their food choices. Coyotes in different environments, such as deserts, forests, or grasslands, adapt their diets to the local prey. For example, coyotes in temperate forests may consume more ungulates, while those in other regions might focus more on small mammals.
The abundance of specific prey animals directly affects consumption. When populations of rodents or rabbits are high, coyotes readily prey on them, helping to control these populations. Conversely, during periods of prey scarcity, coyotes expand their foraging to other available foods.
Coyotes in Human Habitats
When coyotes live near human settlements, their diet often includes human-associated food sources. This adaptation allows them to thrive in urban and suburban environments, which offer a different array of food.
Domestic animals, particularly small pets like cats and small dogs, can become prey if left unattended outdoors. Poultry and young livestock such as lambs or calves are also sometimes targeted in agricultural areas.
Human-derived foods like garbage and pet food left outside are readily consumed by urban coyotes. Studies in urban areas show that human leftovers, ornamental fruits, and garden produce can constitute a significant portion of their diet. In some highly urbanized settings, these human-provided resources can account for up to 60-75% of their diet.