The coyote, Canis latrans, is a highly successful and adaptable member of the dog family, thriving across North and Central America. Classified as a generalist predator and omnivore, this wild canine’s dietary flexibility allows it to flourish from remote wilderness areas to dense urban centers. Its diet is governed by what is most available and easiest to acquire, changing dramatically based on geography, season, and human activity. This versatility explains the coyote’s ability to colonize and sustain populations in nearly every environment it encounters.
Primary Natural Food Sources
In natural and rural settings, the coyote’s diet is primarily carnivorous, focusing on small- to medium-sized mammals that it can hunt alone or in pairs. Rodents constitute a reliable staple, with species like mice, voles, and gophers being consistently consumed throughout the year. These small prey items are often captured through a characteristic pouncing behavior, an effective hunting method for animals hidden in grass or snow.
Lagomorphs, such as rabbits and hares, are also a major component of the diet, frequently accounting for over 30% of the food consumed in some western regions. While coyotes mainly hunt smaller game, they can occasionally prey on larger animals, including white-tailed deer fawns, especially in the spring when young are vulnerable. In rural areas, coyotes may opportunistically prey on smaller domestic livestock like lambs or poultry, though they are often more significant consumers of livestock carrion than active hunters of adult animals.
Invertebrates also play a substantial role, particularly during warmer months when they are abundant and easy to catch. Insects, including large beetles and grasshoppers, are readily eaten and provide a seasonal boost of protein to the coyote’s diet. The size of the coyote’s prey often influences its social structure; populations that rely heavily on small rodents tend toward more solitary hunting, while those with access to larger game may form small packs to hunt cooperatively.
Seasonal Foraging and Opportunistic Items
The coyote’s omnivorous nature becomes most apparent when considering non-animal food sources and its reliance on scavenging. Plant matter, particularly fruits and berries, can make up a significant portion of its diet, especially during the late summer and autumn. Studies have shown that vegetation consumption is greatest during these seasons, reflecting the availability of ripe produce.
Coyotes actively forage for various fruits and nuts, including wild berries, grapes, and the fruit of ornamental plants. Certain berries and mesquite pods can comprise over half of a coyote’s diet for several months, demonstrating a clear shift away from meat when plant resources peak. This consumption of plant material is a strategy for maintaining energy and hydration when primary prey is less available.
Carrion, or the remains of dead animals, is an important opportunistic food source that sustains coyotes throughout the year. Scavenging becomes particularly important in the winter, when deep snow makes hunting small mammals difficult and the carcasses of large ungulates, like deer or elk, become more available. This ability to switch seamlessly between hunting live prey and scavenging dead material highlights the coyote’s adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
Diet in Urban and Suburban Areas
In urban and suburban environments, the coyote diet shifts dramatically to exploit anthropogenic food sources—resources provided directly or indirectly by humans. Unsecured trash, improperly stored pet food, and compost piles become highly reliable, low-effort food subsidies. In some urban studies, human-associated food items, including garbage and ornamental fruits, have been found to account for 60% to 75% of the coyote’s diet.
The consumption of domestic animals is a significant factor in areas with high human density, and it is closely linked to the availability of other easy food sources. Coyotes prey on small pets, such as outdoor cats and small dogs, with domestic cat remains appearing in a notable percentage of urban coyote scat. This behavior is a direct result of the lack of natural fear and the high reward associated with foraging near human homes.
The availability of human food can alter the physical health of coyotes; stable isotope analysis indicates that a large portion of their diet comes from a corn-based food chain, characteristic of processed human food and livestock feed. To reduce human-coyote conflict, residents are advised to secure all trash, remove pet food from outside, and pick up dropped fruit from yards. Removing these easy subsidies encourages coyotes to revert to their more natural hunting behaviors, promoting co-existence in shared habitats.