The role of predators in quail management

The role of predators in quail management is always a hot topic. In this study in south Texas on a 19,000 acre property, they collected 246 coyote scats during the 2022 year. This is a un-hunted coyote population, therefore they believe it has a higher percentage of mature coyotes, who are more effective big game hunters versus young coyotes that may depend on easy prey items such as insects. They found no evidence of livestock in the diet even though cattle were present on the property. Here's a breakdown of what they found in the scat, the percentages won't add up to 100% because multiple food items were found in scat samples:

% occurrence in scat -

White-tailed deer: 74.4%

Wild pig: 21.5%

Rodents: 17.9%

Raccoon: 7.3%

Mesquite beans: 7.3%

Prickly pear: 6.9%

Cottontail: 6.9%

Unidentified plants: 4.9%

Armadillo: 3.7%

Javelina: 3.2%

Insect: 1.2%

Bobwhite Quail: 0.4%

Skunk: 0.4%

 

RWFM doctoral student Anna Racey’s new publication in the Canadian Journal of Zoology provides unique perspective into the diets of coyotes on a landscape where no native wildlife is managed by harvesting, trapping or supplemental feeding.

“Understanding coyote diet in a system with a lack of human intervention can provide insight into their natural ecological role, a perspective muddled in the context of extrinsic influences,” Racey said.

The research took place at the East Foundation's San Antonio Viejo Ranch in 2022. By analyzing coyote fecal samples collected each month, researchers identified 23 unique prey species, with white-tailed deer and feral hogs as the most common prey item.

“Without an understanding of the diet of coyotes in a natural system, conservationists and livestock ranchers alike cannot anticipate the changes in predator-prey dynamics and ecosystem function that may result from shifts in natural resource management methods,” she said.

Access the study’s full text at https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjz-2024-0120

Texas Wildlife Association | TAMU Chapter of The Wildlife Society | Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society | John M. Tomeček