San Francisco Coyotes Rely Heavily on Human Food in Urban Diet Shift

A UC Davis study reveals that urban coyotes in San Francisco consume significant amounts of human-sourced food, influenced by city infrastructure and human behavior.

• A study of over 700 coyote scat samples collected between 2019 and 2022 found that 78% of their diet in San Francisco comes from human-origin food sources like chicken and pig.
• Coyotes in areas with more pavement and fewer green spaces consume more human-sourced food, while those near green spaces rely more on natural prey like pocket gophers and raccoons.
• The study highlights the role of urban infrastructure, such as restaurant density and waste management, in shaping coyote diets and behavior.
• Despite public concern, domestic cats made up only 4.5% of the coyotes' diet, with small mammals like rats and mice being a more significant food source.
• Researchers emphasize the importance of reducing human-coyote conflicts by securing food waste, keeping pets indoors, and avoiding feeding coyotes.

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