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Coyote Scat (Canis latrans)

Coyote Scat (Canis latrans)

There are several clues to help you distinguish coyote scat from the scat of other canids (I.e. dogs). The scat (a.k.a. excrement, feces) of wild predators (i.e. animals that eat other animals) is typically filled with objects, such as bones, hair, seeds from fruit etc. In contrast, the scat of domestic dogs usually lacks inclusions because the food that dogs get is finely ground. Dog food doesn’t contain chips of bone, hair or seeds.

Coyote scat (Canis latrans) made as part of a kids learning project.

Coyote scat in winter often is full of hair. In this case it looks like deer hair, likely from feeding on deer killed by cars or hunting. Scats are approximately 1/2 inch wide and placed along trails and intersections of trails. Scats can also appear like twisted ropes.

To learn more about identifying scat purchase the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd ed.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. Copyright All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.

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Coyote (Canis latrans) Predation Research in Virginia

Coyote (Canis latrans) Predation Research in Virginia

A portrait picture of a coyote, Canis latrans.
Canis latrans: a coyote in Arizona (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Coyote predation is a significant concern for ranchers, herdsmen and hunters. Historically, coyotes were only located on the Great Plains in the mid-west and western states. But changes in land use allowed coyotes to significantly expand their range in the United States. Today, coyotes can be found throughout the eastern seaboard. As a top carnivore, biologists want to know what coyotes are eating and whether accusations that coyotes are eating too many deer is true or not.

Research on coyote scats has revealed that 2/3 of coyote scats studied in 2011 contained deer remains. In other words, coyotes were eating deer. But were the coyotes responsible for predating on deer? Or were the coyotes simply eating deer that had died from vehicle strikes, disease, gun-shot or arrow wounds etc.? In other words, did the deer die from direct coyote predation or something else? If something else, then charges that coyotes are harming deer populations would be unfounded.

Interestingly, the study found that bobcat (Lynx rufus) scats contained a similar percentage of deer in bobcat scats. Black bear (Ursus americanus) scats, however, revealed the presence of deer in only 36% of the black bear scats. Keep in mind that this study was limited to the state of Virginia. So use caution when using Virginia scat data to base conclusions about predator behavior in other environments and states.

These findings show that scientists need to learn more about the cumulative effect of these predators on deer populations. Since deer are an important resource, learning more about the interactions of predation is particularly relevant to wildlife management officials.

Source: Bock, Bob. 2012. Coyote Research in Virginia. Wildlife Professional 6:3(Fall):74.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. Copyright All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.

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Bird Predation ID

Bird Predation ID

Identifying predation of birds and fowl is a challenging activity. Like all predation identification, there are a lot of factors to consider before rushing to a judgement. It is very easy to be wrong and blame the innocent. Fortunately, there are some important clues that you should consider. One in particular, is the feather. When you look The question is, how does one know if the suspect animal killed or was simply feeding on the already dead bird carcass?

Clean feather tip showing the feather fell off a warm bird.
Clean feather tip showing the feather fell off a warm bird.

One tip is to carefully check the feathers particularly the tip of the feather that would be held by the skin. Wear waterproof gloves as you always want to consider zoonotic diseases when handling wildlife materials. This part of the feather is called a calamus, but some may call it the root. If the root is smooth as pictured in the photo (the circled part), then you know the feather was removed while the bird was still warm. If the root has bits of flesh attached the feather came from the bird when it was cold, i.e. dead.

Clearly this bird predation id tip doesn’t cover every option, but timing can help exonerate or potentially implicate a suspected animal.

If you would like to learn more about wildlife damage identification, including predation identification, get a copy of the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications available at {Stephen’s Academia.edu Page} along with several books {WCC Store}). Listen to his podcast “Living the Wild Life” at {Pest Geek Podcast}. Please subscribe to {Stephen’s YouTube Channel} He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. Copyright All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.

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