The coyote (Canis latrans) is one of North America’s most adaptable canids, thriving across diverse habitats from deserts to urban centers. These animals are highly opportunistic feeders, meaning their diet changes based on what is available in their environment. Coyotes do consume snakes, which are included in their broad diet, but reptiles are generally a supplemental food source rather than a primary one. This dietary flexibility allows the coyote to survive in nearly any ecosystem it colonizes.
The Role of Snakes in the Coyote Diet
Snakes do not form a significant portion of a coyote’s overall caloric intake. The consumption of reptiles is often seasonal, peaking during warmer months when snakes are most active and easier to encounter. Snakes are primarily eaten out of opportunity, such as when a snake is slow, small, or encountered while a coyote is hunting other prey.
Coyotes prey upon smaller, slower-moving species like garter snakes, which are widely distributed across their range. They are known to prey on venomous snakes, including rattlesnakes, but they approach such encounters with caution. The frequency of snake consumption is low compared to their preferred small mammal prey.
Hunting and Handling Reptile Prey
When a coyote encounters a snake, its hunting behavior is cautious and measured, designed to neutralize the threat quickly. Coyotes utilize their keen sense of smell and hearing to detect reptiles, especially those concealed in grass or under rocks. The strategy involves a rapid, aggressive pouncing motion, often directed at the snake’s mid-body to prevent it from striking.
The coyote aims to keep its head and face away from the snake’s mouth, particularly when dealing with venomous species. They use quick bites and head-shaking to disorient and kill the snake before consuming it. This methodology minimizes the risk of envenomation or injury.
Other Components of the Coyote Diet
The coyote maintains a highly varied, omnivorous diet. Small mammals, such as voles, mice, and rabbits, are the foundation of the coyote’s diet across nearly all habitats. Scat analysis frequently shows rodents and lagomorphs as the most prevalent food items throughout the year.
Deer, often consumed as carrion or as vulnerable fawns, are another significant food source, particularly in winter. Coyotes also regularly consume fruits, berries, and other vegetation, especially during the summer and autumn when they are readily available. Insects, including grasshoppers and beetles, also supplement their diet.