Opportunistic Omnivores
Coyotes eat a variety of things depending on availability.
Primary Foods
- Small mammals: Mice, rats, voles, rabbits, and squirrels form the core of their diet.
- Birds: Preyed on both on the ground and in trees.
- Insects: Grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects.
Secondary Foods
- Larger mammals: Deer fawns, young livestock, or weak adult animals.
- Carrion: Dead animals, including roadkill.
- Fruits and vegetables: Berries, nuts, and plant matter.
- Reptiles: Occasionally snakes and lizards.
Factors Affecting Diet
- Location and environment
- Time of year
- Competition from other predators
Coyotes are skilled hunters as well as scavengers.