In this guide, we’ll answer the question:
“What eats coyotes?”
First, you’ll find a short summary of what animals eat coyotes in the wild and then get a detailed list of coyote predators.
Coyotes are a class of mammals in the Canidae family that are native to North America. Coyotes now live in many places across the globe from Central America to the Arctic. Except for Hawaii, coyotes live in all parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The coyote has 19 recognized subspecies, are omnivores but primarily carnivorous, and has an average lifespan in the wild of up to 14 years.
What Eats Coyotes?
Animals that eat coyotes include alligators, bears, cougars, golden eagles, wolves, and other coyotes. A coyote falls prey to only a few species and is one of the top predators in many ecosystems.
Coyote Predators
American Alligator
The American alligator is a cunning and opportunistic hunter. This large reptile is found in wetlands throughout the southeastern United States and as far west as eastern Texas.
Alligators are reptiles which eats coyotes using its powerful jaws.
Coyotes are an easy target for alligators, especially when they are crossing a body of water or coming as a pack to drink from an alligator-inhabited water source.
Alligators hunt their prey by lurking in the water and striking quickly when an animal comes close. Because both coyotes and American alligators are active during the day and at night, these two animals cross paths often.
Bears
Black bears and grizzly bears are some of the largest predators in North America and the grizzly bear can weigh up to 800 pounds.
These large mammals inhabit forested areas and mountain ranges from Alaska to Mexico and are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and animals.
Bears are known to attack coyotes, especially when there is a shortage of other food sources.
Bears hunt coyotes by stalking them until they are close enough to make a kill. They kill coyotes by biting them in the neck or head.
Cougars
Cougars are the largest cat in North America and these solitary coyote predators, also known as mountain lions, inhabit the same forested and mountainous regions that coyotes like to roam.
Cougars hunt a variety of prey, including coyotes, and stealth and speed are this predator’s strong suit.
A cougar typically ambushes its prey by sneaking up on it until they are close enough to make a kill by using driving their large canine teeth into the back of the neck.
Golden Eagles
The golden eagle is the largest raptor in North America with a wingspan of up to 7 feet.
And while you may not think a bird would hunt a canine like a coyotoe, the fact is that these are magnificent animals that eat coyotes using their powerful talons and strong beaks.
Golden eagles are opportunistic hunters with keen eyesight, constantly scanning the ground for their prey. Once their opportunity to strike is presented, the Golden Eagle uses its ariel advantage to swoop directly into the coyote pack and steal their young.
A golden eagle will also fight coyotes to protect themselves or their eaglets.
Wolves
Wolves are the largest member of the dog family which coyotes also belong to.
Wolves are social predators that occupy a wide range of habitats in North America, Canada, and Mexico; including forests, mountains, and deserts.
Wolves typically hunt in packs and prey on a variety of animals, including coyotes.
Coyotes are an easy target for wolves when they are traveling alone or as part of a pack. Wolves make their kill by biting the coyote’s neck, which often kills them instantly.
Other Coyotes
Surprisingly, coyotes are one of the biggest predators of other coyotes and will cannibalize each other if they need to.
Because much of the coyote’s safety comes from the strength of the pack, if one of their own is injured, it immediately compromises the safety of the entire pack.
To protect themselves from other predators, the pack will turn on the injured coyote and eat it in seconds.
What Do Coyotes Eat?
Coyotes are also predators that must prey on other animals to survive.
You can visit our other guide on what do coyotes eat to find out more about what these mammals feed on for nutrition.
Animals That Eat Coyotes Summary
You now know what eats coyotes in the wild and which species are the top coyote predators.
As you discovered in this guide, there are about 6 animals that eat coyotes in nature when their paths cross each other.
I’m the lead editor and writer for Animal Answer Guide. I enjoy sharing expert knowledge on the various characteristics of common species within the five distinct groups of animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
