Santa Cruz, United States - February 14, 2025 For the first time, scientists have documented California coyotes hunting and eating harbor seal pups, marking a significant discovery about the adaptability of these canines. A new study published on February 12 in Ecology details how researchers from UC Santa Cruz used motion-triggered cameras to capture footage of coyotes dragging and devouring baby harbor seals at MacKerricher State Beach, located north of Fort Bragg. Led by Ph.D. student Frankie Gerraty, the team observed three instances during the 2023 and 2024 harbor seal pupping season. The coyotes were seen removing the pups’ heads to access the brain, their preferred first meal. This discovery, which sheds light on the behavior of coyotes, was years in the making. The mystery began when wildlife expert Sarah Grimes found multiple seal carcasses in the same location. Tracks and droppings eventually led them to suspect coyotes, a theory later confirmed through video evidence. While this might seem unusual, Gerraty emphasizes that it is a natural interaction between two native species. “Coyotes have a PR problem,” he said, hoping to shift perceptions of these animals as only nuisance predators. The study also notes that seal pups provide an important food source for other scavengers, including vultures and bald eagles. The research further suggests that land-based predators, like coyotes, may be influencing where seals choose to raise their young, as evidenced by a decline in seal numbers at MacKerricher State Beach since 2018. [Credit: Frankie Gerraty]