The coyote, Canis latrans, is a highly adaptable canine species found throughout North and Central America, thriving in environments from remote wilderness to dense urban centers. This adaptability extends directly to their varied and opportunistic diet. This exploration addresses whether fish are a component of their feeding habits.
Fish: An Opportunistic Food Source
Coyotes consume fish, but this is strictly opportunistic and not a primary food source. Fish become a dietary component when they are easily accessible due to seasonal or geographical factors. For coastal populations, marine resources, including fish, are a more consistent part of the diet, with observations showing them consuming intertidal fish and other marine life.
Coyotes primarily acquire fish by scavenging dead or dying specimens rather than actively hunting healthy, free-swimming fish. They frequently patrol shorelines, riverbanks, and coastlines to scavenge carrion, such as fish washed ashore or marine mammal carcasses. Scat analysis from coastal coyotes indicates high carbon and nitrogen isotope values, directly confirming the consumption of seafood.
Specific circumstances, such as a salmon spawning run or low water levels, can concentrate fish in shallow pools, making them vulnerable. Although coyotes are generally inefficient aquatic predators, they will occasionally wade into shallow water to capture small, trapped fish or amphibians. This temporary dietary shift utilizes a nutrient-rich resource when it requires minimal energetic output.
The Coyote’s Typical Menu
The coyote is a true omnivore, with a diet consisting of about 90% animal matter supplemented by plant material. This primary diet explains why fish consumption remains secondary. The foundation of their diet consists of small mammals, such as rodents like voles, pocket gophers, and mice, which can comprise up to 70% of their intake in certain habitats. Lagomorphs, including rabbits and hares, are also important, especially during winter when other prey is less available.
Beyond small mammals, their animal-based menu includes supplements like insects, reptiles, and ground-nesting birds and their eggs. This diverse prey base shifts seasonally and regionally, reflecting the most readily available resources. For instance, coyotes sometimes collaborate with badgers to hunt burrowing rodents, increasing their catch rate by making prey vulnerable both above and below ground.
Coyotes also rely significantly on plant matter, especially when animal prey is scarce. They consume seasonal fruits, berries, and grasses, which can make up a noticeable percentage of their diet in the fall and winter. In urban environments, their adaptability is highlighted by utilizing human-derived food sources, including scavenging from refuse and occasionally preying on domestic animals.