Food habits and anthropogenic supplementation in coyote diets along an urban-rural gradient

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are recent colonists of the southeastern United States and have broadened their niche to include exploitation of urban areas. We examined the diet of coyotes inhabiting areas of differential development by humans and assessed prevalence of anthropogenic feeding, to detect a p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human-wildlife interactions 2017-10, Vol.11 (2), p.156-166
Main Authors: Santana, Erica, Armstrong, Jim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Anthropogenic factors
anthropogenic feeding
Canidae
Canis latrans
coyote
Coyotes
Deer
Diet
Dietary supplements
Exploitation
Food
Food consumption
Food habits
Food preferences
Habits
Populations
Rural areas
scat analysis
Special Topics
Studies
Urban areas
urban carnivore
Urban populations
Wildlife
Wildlife habitats
Wildlife management
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Summary:Coyotes (Canis latrans) are recent colonists of the southeastern United States and have broadened their niche to include exploitation of urban areas. We examined the diet of coyotes inhabiting areas of differential development by humans and assessed prevalence of anthropogenic feeding, to detect a possible shift in dietary trends by collecting and examining 159 fecal samples from urban, exurban, and rural areas of east-central Alabama, USA. Consumption of anthropogenic food did not vary along the urban-rural gradient, and foods consumed were similar among habitats. While results of our study can provide insight to guide decisions about managing populations of urban-exurban coyotes in the region, further research should be conducted in a diversity of developed areas to assist wildlife managers in evaluating strategies for managing populations of urban-exurban coyotes.
ISSN:2155-3858
2155-3874
2155-3874
DOI:10.26077/vhdx-1033