Dejection and expulsion rates of coyotes (Canis latrans) in captivity

We obtained dejection and expulsion rates for use as correction factors in studies of diet and relative abundance of coyotes (Canis latrans). Feeding tests were performed at the Zacango Zoo, Calimaya, Mexico. We tested 3 treatments with different categories of biomass (10 to 80 g, 100 to 700 g, and 1,000 to 4,500 g). Dejection rates averaged 0.79 +/- 0.22 SD excrements/g of biomass, with no significant difference among treatments. Expulsion rates significantly differed, with 1.33 scats produced/g of biomass for the first category (10 to 80 g), 4.69 scats/g of biomass for the second category, and 6.91 scats/g of biomass for the third. We compared these values with those from other studies performed with wolf (Canis lupus) and lynx (Lynx pardinus).