The coyote, Canis latrans, is a highly adaptable canid that has successfully expanded its range across North America, thriving in diverse environments from wilderness to urban settings. This resilience is tied to its flexible diet, which often leads to overlap with human activities like wildlife feeding. The practice of putting out deer corn raises a common question about whether this grain becomes a food source for these opportunistic predators. Understanding the coyote’s true dietary needs provides a definitive answer to whether deer corn is a meal or simply a by-product of its primary pursuit.
Do Coyotes Actually Consume Corn
Coyotes are classified as opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will consume almost anything edible if resources are scarce or easily accessible. While deer corn, typically whole-kernel field corn, is not a preferred staple, coyotes will occasionally eat it. This consumption is usually noted when other food sources are difficult to find, such as during winter months. Coyotes have been confirmed eating corn directly from piles or feeders, sometimes alongside the deer the feed was intended for.
The nutritional benefit of whole corn to a coyote is relatively low. Corn is high in carbohydrates but lacks the necessary protein and fat content required by a canid diet. Furthermore, coyotes have difficulty fully digesting the tough outer shell and starchy interior of the kernels. Evidence of corn consumption is often found in coyote scat, where kernels may pass through largely undigested, indicating poor nutrient absorption.
Natural and Preferred Food Sources
The coyote’s diet is centered on high-protein, high-energy sources that reflect its predatory nature. Small mammals form the foundation of their caloric intake, often comprising up to 70% of their diet in certain habitats. Rodents like voles, mice, gophers, and rabbits are primary targets, offering a substantial return of fat and protein. This focus establishes the coyote as an effective natural controller of pest populations in many ecosystems.
Coyotes are also skilled scavengers, readily consuming carrion, such as deer that have succumbed to vehicle strikes or natural causes. This provides a reliable food source, especially during winter when live prey is harder to catch. Their omnivorous nature expands their menu to include a variety of plant matter depending on the season and location.
When small mammals are less available, coyotes turn to seasonal items like insects, fruits, and berries. They seek out apples, peaches, and blackberries, which provide sugars and hydration. This dietary flexibility allows the species to persist in a wide range of environments, highlighting that corn is a fallback or opportunistic food rather than a primary choice.
Secondary Attraction to Feed Sites
Coyotes are frequently observed near deer feeders, but their presence is often due to secondary attractions created by the site rather than the corn itself. The concentration of corn inevitably draws smaller creatures, most notably rodents. Mice, rats, and squirrels are attracted to the spilled grain, turning the feeder location into a reliable hunting ground for the coyote.
These feeding stations also create an unnatural gathering point for deer, including fawns and sick or injured individuals. This concentration of potential prey makes the deer herd more vulnerable to predation. Coyotes may learn to associate the sound of a feeder dispensing grain with the presence of deer.
Any wounded deer or carcasses left near the site provide an easy source of carrion for a scavenging coyote. The combination of high-density small prey and vulnerable large prey means the feeder acts as a localized food magnet for the coyote, regardless of whether it consumes the corn itself.