Show r r oW Minute Analysis Tells Secrets of Animal Diet Scientists of ot the bureau of biological biological puzzle pu ical sur e survey frequently face tace n R that would confound most of the le Ie glon of at puzzle solvers sol The question Is What do animals eat cat To know whether a n given Shen animal or bird Is a n desirable neighbor or a pest the bureau bu bu- bu renu reau often must know Just what It eats The co coyote ote for example Is a pest In some areas but It may be a helpful helpful help help- ful animal In other localities where It lives largely largel on rodents and other small animals that may do more damage damage dam dam- age to crops or forests than the co coy coyotes coyotes otes do to live ll stock poultry and game To find out what coyotes cootes In any particular area are eating the biological survey workers examine the contents of at the stomachs of coyotes coyotes coy coy- otes that have have been been killed By certain tain Indications the examiners tire are usually a able le to distinguish fresh meat from carrion and can cun as a R rule determine de de- termine whether the source of or such material Is cow horse or sheep In the case cose of at prairie dogs pocket gophers mice rats rabbits and other other oth oth- er small animals the co coyotes otes frequently frequent frequent- I. I ly do not eat cat the tho most readily flable parts Teeth and claws would Identify the pre prey of course But nut even en without these the laboratory workers can solve the puzzle They examine the hair and fur that the coyote t gulps with the meat Under the microscope microscope micro micro- scope the skilled worker can thus usually usually usually ally Identify the genus and often oCten the species of of the co coyotes coyote's otes prey pre and so can tell whether In n given gi area the coyote Is doing more good than harm or the reverse erse |