What Eats Coyotes? (The Food Chain In The Wild)

Coyotes are skilled predators, but they are also prey. So, what eats coyotes?

In the wild, adult coyotes are killed mainly by wolves and mountain lions, and occasionally by bears. Golden eagles and other large predators sometimes take pups.

Knowing who hunts coyotes helps explain how their numbers rise and fall. Here is a look at coyote predators and their effect on coyote populations.

The Rule Of The Wilderness

In the wild, every animal plays a part. Coyotes hunt smaller animals, and larger predators sometimes hunt coyotes.

These predator-prey relationships help keep ecosystems in balance. Understanding them tells us a lot about coyote numbers and the wider food web.

Primary Coyote Predators

Mountain Lions And Grizzly Bears

Mountain lions, also called cougars, are among the main natural predators of coyotes. In Yellowstone, the National Park Service says cougars were the main threat to coyotes before wolves returned, often killing coyotes that tried to feed on cougar kills.

Competition over carcasses is a common reason mountain lions kill coyotes.

Grizzly bears and other bears may also kill coyotes, usually in clashes over food or territory, though this is less common.

Gray Wolves

Gray wolves are bigger than coyotes and treat them as competitors. Wolves often kill coyotes, especially around carcasses and inside wolf territories.

After wolves returned to Yellowstone, they killed dozens of coyote pups and adults, mostly when coyotes fed on wolf kills. The park service says coyote numbers on the northern range fell by as much as 50%, though more recent data suggest they have since risen.

Golden Eagles

Golden eagles are powerful birds of prey. They occasionally take coyote pups, and rarely attack adults.

Eagle predation is not a major cause of coyote deaths overall, but it adds to the risks young coyotes face.

Uncommon Predators And Unusual Circumstances

In some places, coyotes face less common threats.

American Alligators

In the marshes and wetlands of the southeastern United States, American alligators can ambush coyotes that come to the water's edge.

This only happens where their ranges overlap, and it isn't a major cause of coyote deaths. Still, it's a real risk around alligator waters.

Other Coyotes

Coyotes sometimes kill other coyotes. Fights usually happen over territory, and adults may kill pups or wanderers from other packs.

This is part of how coyote packs defend their territory and the food in it.

Coyotes As Prey And Predators

Coyotes are adaptable, and they now live in cities and suburbs as well as wild areas.

Coyotes In The Food Web

Coyotes hold a middle place in the food web. In Yellowstone, they mainly eat voles, mice, rabbits, other small animals, and carrion, and they eat young elk calves only in spring.

Coyotes are also omnivores that eat fruit and insects. At the same time, wolves, mountain lions, and some bears are a threat to them.

Coyote Predation On Other Species

Coyotes help control populations of rodents and rabbits, and they sometimes take fawns and other young animals.

This can lead to conflict with people when coyotes go after livestock or pets. Keep small pets indoors or supervised in coyote country, and secure chickens and other small livestock at night.

Human Impact On The Coyote Population

In much of North America, people have a bigger effect on coyotes than any natural predator. Hunting, trapping, and vehicle collisions all kill coyotes, and some states manage coyote numbers to protect livestock or other wildlife.

These programs raise questions about how best to balance conflict control with healthy wildlife populations.

Final Thoughts

Coyotes are both hunters and hunted. Wolves and mountain lions are their main natural predators, while people cause many coyote deaths.

Learning how coyotes fit into the food chain helps us live alongside them more safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a predator to a coyote?

Wolves and mountain lions are the main natural predators of adult coyotes. Bears, golden eagles, and alligators occasionally kill coyotes, mostly pups.

What is a coyote's biggest enemy?

Where wolves live, they are a coyote's biggest natural enemy. Across much of North America, people kill more coyotes than any natural predator.

What will kill a coyote?

Wolves, mountain lions, and bears can kill adult coyotes. Golden eagles, bobcats, and alligators may take pups or, rarely, adults.

How much can a coyote eat?

It varies with the coyote's size and what food is available. Coyotes eat mostly small mammals such as voles and mice, plus carrion, fruit, and insects.

Sources

• Coyote, Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service