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Coyote (Canis latrans) Scat

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Coyote (Canis latrans) scat. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.

Coyote (Canis latrans) Scat

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.

About the Author

Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator who helps individuals, businesses, and agencies resolve wildlife damage issues through training, writing, expert witness, and research. His latest book is the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd edition. He can be contacted at wildlifecontrolconsultant at gmail dot com.

If you would like your publication, video, or product reviewed, please contact the author at the e-mail above.

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

Canis latrans Français : Un coyote en Arizona
Canis latrans Français : Un coyote en Arizona (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over the past 30 years, coyotes have expanded their range dramatically. Whereas they originally only resided in the mid to western states of the U.S., today coyotes can be found throughout the eastern seaboard. As a top carnivore, biologists want to know what coyotes are eating.

Research of scats has revealed that 2/3 of coyote scats studied in 2011 contained deer. A similar percentage was found in bobcat scats. Black bear scats, however, revealed the presence of deer in only 36% of the scats. The scat study was limited to Virginia.

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.

About the Author

Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator who helps individuals, businesses, and agencies resolve wildlife damage issues through training, writing, expert witness, and research. His latest book is the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd edition. He can be contacted at wildlifecontrolconsultant at gmail dot com.

If you would like your publication, video, or product reviewed, please contact the author at the e-mail above.

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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Identifying Predation of Birds and Fowl

Feather from a live bird.
Feather whose root shows it came from a live bird. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.

Identifying Predation of Birds and Fowl

Bird watchers and owners of fowl, such as geese, chickens, and guineas occasionally find dead birds. They may even see an animal feeding or in proximity to the carcass.

The question is, how does one know if the suspect animal killed or was simply feeding on the already dead carcass?

One tip is to carefully check the feathers particularly the root. If the root is smooth as pictured in the photo, 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.

It’s not a perfect test but it may help exonerate a suspected animal.

About the Author

Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator and he specializes in wildlife damage sign. His latest book is The Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd. Ed. (2012). It can be purchased from the author or many fine book establishments.

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