Feeding Ecology of Wild Brown-Nosed Coatis and Garbage Exploration: A Study in Two Ecological Parks

Abstract

Wild animals that feed on garbage waste are a problem in ecological parks as it can substantially alter their food ecology. Wild coatis that occupy human recreation areas in parks are often observed feeding on garbage, but the ecological consequences are scarcely known. Forty-four fecal samples from females and 12 from males of wild coatis living in two ecological parks (Parque Municipal das Mangabeiras (PMM) and Parque Nacional do Caparaó (PNC)) were analyzed. Multivariate statistics were applied to evaluate the interaction between four variables (fecal volume, composition, place and sex of coatis). A significant interaction between the parks and sexes with regard to volume and food category was not found. Ungrouped analysis allowed for the identification of a decreasing gradient in volume from PNC males, followed by PNC females, PMM males, and PMM females. We did not find differences between categories of food between males and females from PNC and PMM, except for invertebrates. Females from PNC consumed more invertebrates than males and females of PMM, but we did not find differences from PNC males. The coatis of both parks primarily consume invertebrates and vegetables, but garbage residues were found in their feces. Garbage fragments, such as paper, glass, metal, plastic and rope, cause a risk to the health, compromising the conservation efforts of wild coatis. Actions are needed to prevent the access of coatis to dumps in both parks.

Terrestrial mammals of the Americas and their interactions with plastic waste

“…N. nasua are omnivores and have a varied diet that includes fruits, vertebrates, and invertebrates, and opportunistically take advantage of anthropogenic foods in areas where people congregate (Ferreira et al 2013 ). This species has been observed to ingest plastic wrappers with food debris (Montanelli 2001 ), a probable reason why plastics are found in fecal samples (Alves-Costa et al 2004 ; Ferreira et al 2013 ; Ambrosio Ferreira 2017 ; Rodrigues et al 2021 , 2022 ). However, elements such as metals, glass, threads, latex, and paper have also been recorded, suggesting sustained foraging on human waste residues (Rodrigues et al 2022 ).…”

SARS-CoV-2 Spillback to Wild Coatis in Sylvatic–Urban Hotspot, Brazil

“…Coatis ( Nasua nasua ) from South America are small diurnal mammals (family Procyonidae) that are omnivorous, terrestrial, synanthropic, and opportunistic. Coatis interact easily with humans and are often seen foraging for human food, especially from trash ( 4 , 5 ). We investigated the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to a coati population living in an urban park near a large anthropized area of Brazil.…”