Coyotes are clever animals that live in many different places across North America. From forests and deserts to farms and even cities, they can survive almost anywhere. One reason they do so well is because they are not picky eaters. A coyote will eat whatever is easy to catch or find. Their meals can include animals, plants, and even food from people. Some things they eat are common, while others are more surprising. If you’re wondering what coyotes eat, the answer is: just about everything.
Let’s take a closer look at the main foods coyotes eat the most.
1. Small animals like mice and rabbits
Coyotes eat a lot of small animals. These include mice, voles, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits. These little creatures are found in forests, fields, and even backyards. Coyotes are quiet hunters that sneak up on their prey before pouncing. Their sharp hearing and strong noses help them find animals that are hiding underground or under leaves.
In some areas, rabbits are one of the most important food sources for coyotes. They are fast, but coyotes are faster. When rabbit numbers are high, coyotes may eat one every day. During spring and summer, small animals are easier to catch because there are more of them around. Coyotes also teach their pups to hunt small animals first before moving on to bigger ones.
2. Bigger animals like deer or livestock
Even though coyotes are not very large, they can work together to hunt bigger prey. When coyotes form a group, they are called a pack. Packs often go after animals like young deer, especially in the spring when fawns are born. These baby deer are small and slow, which makes them an easy target.
Coyotes may also go after sheep, goats, or calves on farms. This happens more in places where wild food is hard to find. Farmers sometimes report coyotes sneaking into pastures at night. In wild areas, they may hunt elk calves or bighorn sheep if the conditions are right. Hunting large animals takes more energy, but it also provides more food.
3. Birds and bird eggs
Birds are another part of a coyote’s diet. Coyotes are always looking for nests on the ground or low branches. Many birds build their nests in open fields or bushes, which makes them easier to reach. Coyotes will eat both the adult birds and their eggs if they can get to them.
Some of the birds coyotes eat include ducks, wild turkeys, quail, pheasants, and smaller songbirds. If they come across a nest full of eggs, they will eat the eggs on the spot. In rural areas, coyotes may sneak into chicken coops if people don’t keep them locked up. Eggs are a good source of protein, and birds don’t always fight back like mammals do.
4. Reptiles and amphibians
Reptiles and amphibians may not be a main food source, but coyotes will still eat them when other meals are hard to find. They will eat snakes, including dangerous ones like rattlesnakes. Coyotes are fast and careful, so they usually avoid getting bitten. They also eat lizards, turtles, frogs, toads, and salamanders.
In dry areas like deserts, reptiles are more common than mammals. Coyotes take advantage of whatever they can catch. In wet places or near ponds, frogs and toads are easier to find, especially in the spring. These creatures may not have much meat on them, but every bite helps when a coyote is hungry.
5. Fish and water animals
Coyotes are not afraid to get their feet wet. Near rivers, lakes, or coastal areas, they will try to catch fish or snatch up anything that washes up on shore. Some coyotes have been seen grabbing fish straight from shallow water. Others scavenge dead fish and sea creatures that end up on the beach.
In some cases, coyotes live near marshes or wetlands where fish and frogs are plentiful. They may hunt at dawn or dusk when it is easier to sneak up on water animals. They will even eat small crabs, clams, or other creatures that live in the mud. If someone asks, what do coyotes eat near water, the answer often includes fish and amphibians.
6. Insects and bugs
Insects are tiny, but they can add up. Coyotes often eat grasshoppers, beetles, ants, caterpillars, and other bugs. During certain times of the year, bugs are everywhere, and coyotes take advantage. This is especially true in summer when insects are active and easy to find.
Coyotes may dig in the dirt or flip over rocks to find bugs hiding underneath. They sometimes raid beehives for honey and bee larvae. Insects may not be as filling as a rabbit or bird, but they are easy to find and quick to eat. Coyotes will eat whatever is available, and bugs are always nearby.
7. Dead animals
Coyotes are not picky. If they come across a dead animal, they usually stop and eat it. This includes roadkill, old carcasses, or animals that died from natural causes. Eating dead animals is called scavenging, and it is one of the ways coyotes survive when hunting is tough.
During the winter, when live prey is harder to catch, scavenging becomes even more important. Coyotes have strong stomachs and sharp teeth that help them tear through tough hides and frozen meat. Some coyotes even follow other predators like mountain lions or wolves and eat what those animals leave behind. In winter months especially, what do coyotes eat often includes carrion.
8. Fruits and plants
Even though coyotes mostly eat meat, they also enjoy fruits and plants. In the fall, they eat berries, apples, grapes, peaches, and other fruits that grow in the wild or in gardens. They may also eat melons, pumpkins, corn, and seeds.
In some areas, coyotes rely on fruit for a big part of their diet during certain seasons. Cactus fruit and persimmons are two favorites in dry or warm regions. Coyotes may also nibble on grass or leaves to help with digestion. While plants are not their first choice, they help fill the belly when other food is scarce. A good answer to the question, what do coyotes eat in fall, is usually fruit.
9. Garbage and people food
Coyotes that live near towns or cities learn to find food in new ways. They dig through trash cans, eat leftovers, and grab food from pet bowls. Some even steal fruit from trees in people’s yards. These coyotes eat things like bread, meat scraps, fast food, and whatever else they can find.
In some places, more than half of a city coyote’s diet comes from food connected to humans. This includes food waste, compost, bird seed, and even small pets. Coyotes often come out at night to avoid people, and they quickly learn which neighborhoods have easy meals. If someone lives in the city and wonders what coyotes eat nearby, it often includes human leftovers.
10. Rare and strange foods
Sometimes coyotes eat things that seem surprising. Along the coast, they may eat baby seals or sea otters. In the desert, they might chew on cactus or dig up roots. In grasslands, they sometimes team up with badgers to hunt ground squirrels. The badger digs while the coyote waits to catch anything that runs out.
These rare foods are not eaten every day, but they show how clever and adaptable coyotes can be. If something looks like food, a coyote will probably give it a try. That is part of what helps them survive in so many places.
