Winter-spring food habits of an island population of coyote Canis latrans in Baja California, Mexico

Food habits of the coyote (Canis latrans) oil San Luis Gonzaga Island of Baja California, Mexico were investigated. We collected 239 scat samples for analysis on 14 May 1997. Samples ranged from fresh to approximately 2 months old. Frequency of diet components was 48.9% birds, 21.9% fish, 14.8% plants, 3.6% mammals, 4.0% insects, 0.7% reptiles. 0.5% arachnids. and 5% crustaceans. The last group had not previously been recorded ill this region. Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) composed 11% of the diet. Other members of the Ardeidae family accounted for an additional 23.4%. From March through May, the large coyote population on the island depends mainly oil scavenging bird carcasses, and has minimal impact on endemic rodent species on the island. some of them listed as threatened by the Mexican government. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.