Like all dogs, a coyote is an omnivore, and therefore highly opportunistic. It will take live prey – reptiles, frogs, insects, rabbits, ground squirrels, deer, calves, birds, and the mainstay of its diet, rodents – or eat carrion or our garbage. In the fall, berries and other fruit make up a large part of its diet. Orchardists call coyotes "God's dogs," and depend on them to control rodents among their trees. Coyotes are known to track live prey with their acute, canine sense of smell for 20-30 minutes then pounce on the exhausted victim.
