Full Breakdown
South Florida Coyotes Turn to Invasive Iguanas and Peacocks for Food, Study Shows
7/1/2026, 11:55:43 PM
Coyotes Target Iguanas and Peacocks
Mark Kraus, former chair at Miami-Dade College, and University of Florida collaborators documented coyote predation on green iguanas (*Iguana iguana*) and peacocks (*Pavo cristatus*) at the Montgomery Botanical Center. Trail cameras captured coyotes carrying iguanas on six occasions from 13 July 2024 to 6 August 2024, and a peahen carcass with breast meat and eggs was found. Scat analysis confirmed these prey items.
Range Expansion and Study Team
Coyotes entered Florida from the north in the 1970s and now occupy all 67 counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Canal corridors connect the Deering Estate and Fairchild Tropical Gardens to Montgomery, allowing movement through suburban areas. Kraus led the study with University of Florida researchers and FWC data.
Camera and Scat Evidence
Camera footage showed coyotes carrying iguanas to a den and a peahen near a nest. Scat revealed iguana leg fragments, whole skin, and peacock feathers and bones larger than native songbirds, and crab shells, egg shells, fruit fragments. No mammal fur appeared despite raccoons, possums, squirrels and Norway rats. Iguana remains dominated winter diets; fruits and grasses increased in the wet season.
Ecological Impact
The findings show coyotes exploiting non-native species, reducing invasive iguana numbers and limiting peacock breeding. Kraus notes a decline of gray foxes (*Urocyon cinereoargenteus*) on the grounds, suggesting possible displacement. A 2025 Boyd Hill Nature Preserve study found mainly mammal prey, underscoring regional dietary variation.
Official Statements
The FWC says coyotes are “expanding their range with the help of humans” and now occur in every Florida county, including the Keys where they were first seen in 2011. Kraus called green iguanas a “staple dietary item, especially during cooler months,” and noted the lack of mammal fur as evidence of selective prey choice. University of Florida co-researchers praised camera-scat method for predator-prey dynamics.
Conflicting Findings
Montgomery’s scat lacked mammal fur, contrasting with the Boyd Hill study’s mammal-rich scat and highlighting geographic foraging variation. No direct kill footage was captured; predation is inferred from carcasses and camera images. Impacts on gray foxes and overall iguana populations remain unquantified, requiring systematic surveys.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There’s really no other large animal at least in this part of Miami-Dade County that would be taking on something that big,” — Mark Kraus, Miami-Dade College
- “I assume it was to either feed pups, or probably as likely, train pups on how to to deal with an iguana,” — Mark Kraus, Miami-Dade College
- “They couldn’t digest iguana skin very well, so I found a lot of it. That was really direct evidence that they were eating iguana,” — Mark Kraus, Miami-Dade College
- “I’m pretty sure that’s the case,” — Mark Kraus, Miami-Dade College
