Factors Determining Coyote (<i>Canis latrans</i>) Diets

Abstract

Although studies have documented the potential for coyote (Canis latrans) food use to negatively affect wildlife populations and domesticated animals, they are often equivocal, possibly because most are of small spatial extent, and little is known of factors determining coyote diets. Our objectives were to quantify the diet and identify factors determining coyote food use, particularly game species and livestock, over a large spatial and temporal extent. Contents of gastrointestinal tracts were identified from 263 coyotes opportunistically obtained from hunters, trappers, and as road-kills throughout Florida, 2011-2015. We employed logistic regression in an information-theoretic framework to understand determinants of coyote food use. Coyotes were opportunistic and omnivorous foragers with a diverse diet of vegetation, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and more than 25 species of mammals (including important game species and livestock). mined by coyote age, sex, and body mass, season of the year, deer hunting and fawning seasons, livestock calving season, and coyote collection method and location/region. As coyotes expand their range and numbers, conservationists may find it useful to understand how this opportunistic and adaptable predator uses available food sources to reduce conflict across the landscape.

Advances in the Conservation of Large Terrestrial Mammals

“…Therefore, predator control programs focused on habitat where prey are most vulnerable have the greatest likelihood of success. Further, survival of prey should increase even if predators backfill the vacated space over several months to a few years since individuals that disperse or backfill tend to be young individuals that are less likely to take large prey items compared to resident adults (Harrison, 1992;Watine and Giuliano, 2017). Coyotes have the greatest effect on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) during the first few months of life when mule deer are small and unable to escape or during late winter when some individuals have exhausted energy reserves Lingle, 2000).…”

Both temporal and spatial aspects of predator management influence survival of a temperate ungulate through early life

“…Therefore, predator control programs focused on habitat where prey are most vulnerable have the greatest likelihood of success. Further, survival of prey should increase even if predators backfill the vacated space over several months to a few years since individuals that disperse or backfill tend to be young individuals that are less likely to take large prey items compared to resident adults (Harrison, 1992;Watine and Giuliano, 2017). Coyotes have the greatest effect on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) during the first few months of life when mule deer are small and unable to escape or during late winter when some individuals have exhausted energy reserves (Bowyer, 1987;Lingle, 2000).…”

Depredación de armadillo (dasypus novemcinctus) por jaguar (panthera onca) en México

“…En algunas regiones la depredación natural de armadillos es efectuada por dos grandes felinos el jaguar (Panthera onca) y el puma (Puma concolor) quien suele incluir en su dieta especies medianas y en su mayoría venados, de manera oportunista armadillos (Aranda & Sanchez 1996, Aranda, 2012. Otra especie que posiblemente pudiera estar implicada en la depredación natural de armadillos de nueve bandas es el coyote (Canis latrans), (Latine & Giuliano, 2017). Se ha señalado que su área de distribución incluye los bosques tropicales del sureste de México y recientemente su presencia ha sido documentada en la región de Calakmul, Campeche, México.…”