Diet of the Coyote (Canis latrans) at an Urban Nature Preserve in West-Central Florida

Canis latrans (Coyote) populations have expanded throughout North America, reaching urbanized areas of Florida and raising important questions about their impacts on local ecosystems. This study investigates the diet and potential ecological role of Coyotes at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (BHNP), a 99-ha remnant natural area in highly urbanized Pinellas County, FL. Over 1 year, we collected and analyzed 70 Coyote scat samples. Plants were found in 89% of all scats, insects were found in 51%, and vertebrates were found in 60%. Orthopterans, lagomorphs, and fruits (primarily palm seeds) were the most frequent items found in scats. Diet differed significantly among the seasons; in the fall, winter, and spring, various fruits served as key indicator items in the diet, but during the summer, wasp galls and Procyon lotor (Raccoon) were important. Ecologically, there was little evidence to support that Coyotes were fulfilling the role of apex predators, but they may be competing with other predators of lagomorphs and are dispersing non-native palm seeds throughout the preserve.