Food Habits and Anthropogenic Supplementation in the Diet of Coyotes (Canis latrans) along an Urban-Rural Gradient

Coyotes are recent colonists of the Southeast and have broadened their niche to include exploitation of urban areas. The aim of this study was to examine diet of coyotes inhabiting areas of differential development by humans and assess prevalence of anthropogenic feeding, to detect a possible shift in dietary trends. In urban, exurban, and rural areas of east-central Alabama, 159 fecal samples were collected and examined to reconstruct the diet. Consumption of anthropogenic food did not vary significantly along an urban-rural gradient and foods consumed were similar among habitats. While results of this study can provide insight to guide decisions about managing populations of urban-exurban coyotes in the Southeast, 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