Coyotes are adaptable canids found across diverse North American landscapes, from dense forests to arid deserts and increasingly, urban environments. Their ability to thrive in varied habitats is closely linked to their flexible dietary habits. This often leads to questions regarding the extent of their diet, particularly whether these canids consume fruits.
The Omnivorous Nature of Coyotes
Coyotes are highly adaptable omnivores, meaning their diet consists of both plant and animal matter. This dietary flexibility is a significant factor in their widespread success and survival across different ecosystems. Their food choices often shift based on the season, the availability of prey, and their geographic location. While their diet is predominantly meat, sometimes comprising around 90% animal matter, the remaining portion includes vegetation and fruits.
This opportunistic feeding strategy allows coyotes to consume whatever food sources are most abundant and accessible in their environment. In summer and autumn, when fruits are more prevalent, their consumption of plant matter tends to increase. This flexibility explains why fruit can become a regular part of their diet, especially when other food sources may be less available.
Common Fruit Choices
Coyotes are known to consume a variety of fruits, demonstrating their broad palate. Berries like blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries are frequently eaten, often making up a notable portion of their diet during peak fruiting seasons. Other common fruits include apples, pears, and plums, which they might find fallen from trees in orchards or wild areas.
They also eat peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon, loquats, persimmons, and cactus fruit, depending on regional availability. They primarily access these fruits when they are ripe and have fallen to the ground, or from lower branches that are within reach.
Beyond Sustenance: Fruit’s Role in Coyote Ecology
The consumption of fruit by coyotes extends beyond simply providing nutrients; it also contributes to broader ecological processes, particularly through seed dispersal. When coyotes consume fleshy fruits, the seeds often pass through their digestive system unharmed. These seeds are then deposited in new locations through scat, facilitating the propagation of various plant species.
Studies show that seeds can survive passage through a coyote’s gut, sometimes even improving their germination rates. This process helps in the spread of plants across landscapes, contributing to ecosystem health and biodiversity. While fruit provides some energetic benefits, it typically serves as a supplemental food source rather than a primary one, especially when compared to their main intake of meat or carrion.