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Canis latrans paw print

This photo was taken on private property that is leased to a hunting club in Grantsboro, NC on January 27, 2018. The print in the mud was identified to be a Coyote (Canis latrens). I determined that the print didn’t belong to a domesticated dog because of scat, other animal tracks such as deer, and a lack of human presence in the area.

Although often labeled as a “predator” coyotes are opportunistic. They feed on a variety of foods such as berries and fruits, deer, snakes, birds, rabbits, frogs, insects and rodents. Coyotes eat what is most readily available which can also include garbage and roadkill. Coincidently, on the same property the coyote paw print was found, I have also spotted a bobcat. This is important to note because both species rely on similar food sources. Although, bobcats (Lynx rufus) are a more active predator. According to an article in the Canadian Journal of Zoology, a population response is suggested by exploitation competition between the two species.

Sources: www.ncpedia.org/wildlife/coyote

icwdm.org/handbook/carnivor/Coyotes.asp

www.ncpedia.org/wildlife/bobcat

ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Mammals/Bobcat

www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/z89-170?journalC...

 

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Uploaded on February 21, 2018