What Do Coyotes Eat?

Coyotes are carnivorous predators that primarily hunt small to medium-sized mammals, making up the bulk of their diet year-round. Their most common prey includes jackrabbits, particularly black-tailed jackrabbits found across much of North America. Coyotes also hunt ground squirrels, prairie dogs, cottontails, and other rodents and small mammals. They opportunistically prey on larger animals like domestic cats and occasionally raccoons when the prey is small or weakened. Coyotes hunt birds including waterfowl like Canada geese and coots. They consume amphibians like frogs when hunting near wetlands. Snakes, lizards, and other small reptiles supplement their diet seasonally. Coyotes also eat fruits, berries, and vegetable matter, particularly in fall and summer months. Insects, grubs, and other invertebrates provide minor nutrition during seasons of scarcity. Their flexible diet allows coyotes to adapt to different regions and changing seasons. Check wildlife pages to learn more about coyotes in different regions of the United States.

Coyote feeding patterns shift significantly with the seasons as prey availability changes across their range. In spring, coyotes hunt young mammals born during breeding season, including newborn rabbits, ground squirrels, and prairie dog pups. Spring also brings increased bird activity, and coyotes actively hunt nesting birds and waterfowl like Canada geese. Summer provides abundant insects, berries, and other plant foods supplementing their meat diet. Fall brings the most abundant food sources as fruits and seeds ripen, and young prey animals reach harvestable size. Coyotes feast heavily during fall to build fat reserves. Winter represents the most challenging season for coyotes, forcing them to hunt larger, more dangerous prey or rely on carrion and scavenged food. Harder winter conditions increase competition among coyotes for remaining prey. Coyotes in northern regions with heavy snow may struggle to find food. Southern coyotes face milder winters and more consistent year-round prey availability. These seasonal patterns directly influence coyote activity, territory size, and pack behavior throughout the year.

Coyote diet varies significantly across different US regions based on available prey and habitat types. In California, coyotes hunt abundant jackrabbits, ground squirrels, and domestic cats in both coastal and inland habitats. Texas coyotes focus heavily on cottontails, prairie dogs, and various ground-dwelling mammals in prairies and scrublands. Arizona desert coyotes hunt desert iguanas, lizards, and adapted rodent species in arid environments. Coyotes in the Great Plains hunt prairie dogs and jackrabbits extensively. Eastern coyotes have adapted to hunt white-tailed deer fawns and rely more on raccoons and smaller mammals. Coastal coyotes may hunt salmon and other fish species opportunistically. Northern coyotes face harsher winters and hunt larger prey more frequently. Southern coyotes maintain year-round hunting and have access to reptiles and amphibians unavailable in colder regions. The geography and ecology of each region directly determine which prey species support local coyote populations most effectively.

Coyotes are intelligent, efficient hunters that employ different hunting strategies depending on prey type and circumstances. They hunt small prey like rabbits and ground squirrels by stalking carefully and using sudden bursts of speed to capture prey. For larger animals, coyotes may hunt cooperatively in packs, allowing them to bring down prey much larger than any single coyote could handle. Coyotes use their keen sense of smell to locate prey and track animals across long distances. They listen carefully for the sounds of small mammals and birds and investigate promising locations. Coyotes pursue prey across varied terrain, using their stamina to exhaust prey over long chases. They consume entire small prey but carefully select meat from larger kills, favoring organ meat first. Coyotes are adaptable predators that adjust tactics based on the situation. They hunt during daylight and darkness depending on local prey behavior and safety conditions. Coyotes also scavenge carrion and will steal kills from other predators when possible. This flexibility and opportunism make coyotes highly successful hunters in nearly every habitat they occupy.

Baby coyotes are born in spring after a gestation period and remain dependent on their mother for several months. Pups begin eating solid food at around three to four weeks old when the mother regurgitates partially digested meat for them to consume. As pups grow, they transition to eating freshly killed prey brought back to the den by their mother and other pack members. Juvenile coyotes start practicing hunting skills through play fighting with littermates, developing the reflexes and coordination needed for hunting. By late summer and fall, young coyotes begin accompanying adults on hunts and participate in group hunts as observers and learners. Pups make their own hunting attempts during fall, though their success rates remain low compared to experienced adults. Young coyotes require frequent feeding to support rapid growth and development. Mortality during youth is high due to inexperience and vulnerability to predators. By their first winter, successful young coyotes have learned enough to hunt independently and may disperse to find their own territories. Adult coyotes reach full hunting proficiency and efficiency by their second or third year.

Coyotes living in suburban areas and near human settlements have adapted to hunt domestic pets and livestock while maintaining normal diets of wild prey. They readily prey on domestic cats, small dogs, rabbits raised for food, and chickens in areas where these are available. Coyotes investigate trash containers searching for food scraps and human food waste. They may be attracted to bird feeders that concentrate small birds and small mammals. In agricultural areas, coyotes kill sheep, goats, and other young livestock. However, most coyotes avoid confrontation with humans and maintain distance from populated areas. Protecting pets and livestock requires keeping animals indoors, removing food sources like fallen fruit and trash, and installing fencing or protective barriers. Never feed coyotes intentionally as this leads to habituation and increases human-wildlife conflict. Coyotes become dangerous when they lose their natural fear of people through repeated positive encounters with human food. The safest approach is to coexist peacefully by securing food sources and keeping distance between humans and coyotes.

Coyotes, wolves, and foxes are all canine predators with overlapping ranges in many parts of North America, but their hunting strategies and preferred prey differ significantly. Wolves are much larger and hunt large game animals like elk, moose, and bison in coordinated packs, requiring very different prey than coyotes. Coyotes hunt small to medium prey and also consume plant matter and insects more heavily than wolves. Foxes are smaller than coyotes and specialize in hunting very small prey like mice, voles, and insects, relying on their hearing and agility to pounce on prey. Coyotes occupy a middle ground between wolves and foxes in terms of size and prey preference. Unlike wolves, coyotes can thrive in human-modified landscapes and suburban areas. Foxes are more specialized hunters while coyotes are generalists, adapting to whatever food is available. Wolves form large, stable packs with strict social hierarchies. Coyotes usually hunt alone or in small family groups. When wolf populations are present, coyotes may avoid competing directly by shifting to smaller prey. All three canines fill important ecological roles as predators of their respective prey species.