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Abstract
While much emphasis has been placed on documenting the response of game populations to predator removal efforts, less thought has been afforded to the effects of removal upon the predator communities. We hypothesized that intensive removal during the quail nesting season would alter diets, decrease the mean age, and increase reproductive performance within the predator community. Mesomammalian predators were removed during 1 March to 1 September 2001 and were considered pre-removal samples. Removal treatments were repeated during 1 March to 1 September 2002 and were considered post-removal samples. Dietary items contained in stomachs from captured raccoons (Procyon lotor), opossums (Didelphis virginiana), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and coyotes (Canis latrans) were consistent with findings from previously published research. Food habits data in 2002 were similar to those in 2001. Mean age of captured predators decreased in 2002 as compared to 2001. Reproductive indices for 2002 were similar to those for 2001.