“Palm Seeds” by Charles Wood

I recently saw undigested palm seeds in coyote scat. I speculated that those coyotes must have been very hungry to eat that! Janet had previously observed palm frond licking by coyotes in her area. A quick internet search shows that the fruit of the Desert Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) is “the main component in the fall diet of coyote” according to Howard, Janet L. 1992. Washingtonia filifera. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). That source credits coyotes as primarily responsible for the dissemination of palm seed. In tests, scatted palm seed has a better chance of germinating. I guess I better put those palm seeds back in the field!