SPATIAL AND SEASONAL-VARIATION IN PREY USE BY COYOTES IN NORTH-CENTRAL KANSAS

Spatial and seasonal variation in prey use by coyotes was assessed for four sites in north-central Kansas. Our analysis was based on 1,389 s eats collected at monthly intervals from March 1990 through February 1 991. Mammals were the most frequent prey at all study areas (present i n 99 to 100% of seats), whereas much less frequent use was recorded fo r insects (3 to 19%), fruits (3 to 9%), birds (3 to 5%), fish (0 to 1% ), and reptiles (0 to <1%). Proportional use of insects and fruits dif fered among sites, while that of mammals, insects, fruits, and birds d iffered among seasons. Based on similarity measures, coyote diets were highly similar among both sites and seasons for major prey taxa, mamm alian prey orders, and rodent prey species. Similarity of occurrence i n seats of major prey taxa was due to frequent use of mammals; similar ity of occurrence of mammalian prey orders to frequent use of rodents and lagomorphs; and similarity of occurrence of rodent prey species to frequent use of cotton rats, prairie voles, and harvest mice.