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Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025

Fact brief: Do coyotes in urban areas eat trash?

Drew Shaw, Fort Worth Report
yes

Studies have found urban coyotes’ diets are 60% to 75% composed of human garbage, fruits and domestic cats. 

While coyotes prefer their natural prey of small animals like rabbits and rodents, they resort to eating trash in cities harboring less wildlife. The animals are opportunistic and will ultimately eat whatever is available to them.

Research from the National Park Service and California State University Northridge analyzed urban coyote scat over a five-year period. Researchers often found undigested fast food wrappers and evidence that up to 38% of a coyote’s diet can come from discarded, corn-based food.

Suburban coyotes eat less garbage, as they have access to more live prey. Their diet varies by season, consisting of prey in the wet winter months and more ripe ornamental fruits in the summer.

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