Comparison of Coyote Diets Between Two Areas of Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Abstract

Coyotes (Canis la trans) have moved into urban and suburban areas across North America, presumably taking advantage of anthropogenic food sources. We compared diets between coyotes in an undeveloped and a suburban/agricultural area in Jackson Hole, Wyoming from July 1998 to August 1999. We analyzed 170 and 169 scats from the suburban/agricultural and the undeveloped area, respectively. Voles (Microtus spp.) were the predominant prey item in scats from both areas during all seasons. Scats collected in the suburban/agricultural area had a significantly higher percent occurrence of voles during all seasons and annually (49%) than the undeveloped area (24%). Coyotes from the undeveloped area consumed significantly more pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) in summer and more cervids in winter than coyotes from the developed area. Foods of human origin were rarely found in scats. We used Sherman live traps to assess relative availability of small mammals. More voles were captured in the suburban/agricultural area than in the undeveloped area. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were most frequently captured mammals in both study areas, but they comprised <1 percent of the diet. This study confirms the generalist nature of the coyote with the exception that the coyotes consumed few deer mice, which appeared to be highly abundant in the area. Coyotes in the suburban/agricultural area took advantage of an abundant vole population that may have been elevated due to human disturbances.