First, analysis of almost 1,000 scats indicated that bobcats were carnivorous throughout the annual cycle, whereas coyotes were seasonally omnivorous. Very few scats of bobcats or coyotes contained turkey remains indicating that they are not major predators of turkeys. Survival rates were high for all of the carnivore species studied, indicating that they have very few enemies other than man. The 2 most important mortality agents for the 4 carnivores studied were man-induced harvest and disease. Bobcats, coyotes, and gray fox used different habitats, especially seasonally, and thus were able to minimize their likelihood of encountering one another.
Coyotes are habitat generalists, with no preference for any specific habitat type.
However, racoons consistently selected mature pine and hardwood habitats. Bobcats were the most territorial, defending well-defined areas, but coyotes and raccoons did not display any territoriality. Coyotes did have extremely large home ranges, and moved great distances seasonally and annually. All species of carnivores were least active during the daytime, with most activity centered from sunset to sunrise. The results of this long-term research program will help wildlife biologists to understand many aspects of Mississippi s carnivore species not previously known.