The “Apex Predator” of Coyotes

2021: A litter of 7 coyote pups in Golden Gate Park (SF Gate)

As we have posted before, coyotes have become ubiquitous in the Bay Area. By examining the content of coyote scat and their dead bodies, researchers have discovered what animals they are preying upon and the prevalence of human food scraps in coyotes' diet (in San Francisco most of the diet was from humans).

Also interesting is what is causing the death of coyotes. Data from 110 dead coyotes from 2017 to 2024 in San Francisco and Marin Counties showed that

Of those individuals, four were lethally removed because of conflict with humans, 28 were live-captured during rescues or collaring, and six were euthanized due to injuries, sickness or other ailments. But the staggering majority — 72 of them — were found dead, with vehicle strikes serving as the leading cause of mortality in 94.4% of that group...

Cars can be perplexing to coyotes, posing a threat if one comes careening around the corner on a busy street, but also a possible reward if the canines come to associate them with food...

“People throw food out their windows to coyotes all of the time,” [UC-Berkeley Dr. Tali] Caspi said. “It sends a confusing signal to the animal.”

Another way that humans are distinguished from animals is the confusing mixed messages that we send.