Food Habits of Coyotes (Canis latrans) on Barrier Islands
Snodgrass K. 1997. Food Habits of Coyotes (Canis latrans) on Barrier Islands
The seasonal and geographical variation in the foraging habits of coyotes (Canis latrans) in south Texas was investigated. Approximately 1,600 coyote scats were collected and analyzed from two barrier islands and two mainland sites from June, 1995 to May, 1996. Mammals, primarily rodents, were the dominant prey remains identified in scats collected throughout the year from the four sites. A greater variety of prey including birds, reptiles, fish, and crabs were represented in barrier island scats. Coyote diets changed with the season according to prey availability. The frequency of fruit and insect remains in scats increased during summer and fall whereas the frequency of mammal, bird, and reptile remains generally increased during winter and spring.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Snodgrass, Keri
- Date of Issue
- 1997-05
- Units
- PAIS
- Keywords
- Barrier Islands, Canis latrans, Coyote, Padre Island National Seashore, PAIS, thesis