Transactions of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society

1997, Volume 33


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Year1997
Volume33
TitleDiet of Coyotes at Lemoore Naval Air Station
Author(s)Amy J. Kuenzi
ArticleLink to PDF

Abstract:
Fresno kangaroo rats (Dipodomys niratoides exilis) an endangered subspecies of the San Joaquin kangaroo rat, are present at Lemoore Naval Air Station, Fresno and Kings Counties, California. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are also present on base and are a potential predator of these kangaroo rats. I collected coyote scats from July 1992 through January 1993 to determine if coyotes at Lemoore feed on Fresno kangaroo rats. Cricetid rodents were the most frequent prey item found in the 93 scats collected. Other prey items occurring in scats included insects, lagomorphs, California voles (Microtus californicus), California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi), gophers (Thomomys spp.), and birds. Fruit was found in a high percentage of scats collected during July-September. Fresno kangaroo rats were not present in any of the scats collected. It is likely that coyote predation on this species is infrequent at Lemoore Naval Air Station.


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