Winter Diets of Coyotes in Relation to Prey Abundance in Southern Texas

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Abstract
Diets of coyotes (Canis latrans) and abundance of mammalian prey were estimated during 8 winters (1979–1986) in southern Texas. Lagomorphs (Sylvilagus audubonii and Lepus californicus) composed the greatest percentages of coyote diets (40–54%) in 6 of 8 winters; woodrats (Neotoma micropus) were staple prey; proportions of cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) in diets varied markedly in association with population irruptions; and small rodents and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were minor dietary components. The proportion of other minor prey items in coyote diets varied inversely with abundance of the five principal prey types. Although coyotes exhibited a general functional response to changes in abundance of prey types in the diverse prey community, evidence for selective feeding on cotton rats was revealed by regression analyses.