Coyotes View Mountain Lions and Other Large Predators as “Enemies with Benefits”

Coyotes View Mountain Lions and Other Large Predators as “Enemies with Benefits”

"It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself." - Leon C. Megginson

These words befit the coyotes, who were previously thought to be less likely to take risks in spite of their famed cleverness.

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Now, it appears that the beliefs of the Native Americans about coyotes -- also known as prairie wolves and brush wolves -- are true. These animals are savvy, able to assess dangers at kill sites and make the choice between dying from hunger and dying by the teeth of their enemies.

A Coyote's Diet is 30% Stolen Food from Their "Enemies with Benefits"

Coyotes are omnivores. They eat rodents, rabbits, frogs, fish, and even deer. Insects, snakes, fruit, grass, and carrion are also part of their diet.

Nevertheless, even if they are such skilled hunters, with keen vision and an amazing speed of 65 kilometers per hour, 30% of a coyote's diet is composed of food stolen from apex predators.

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They love fresh kills; that is why coyotes think of mountain lions, cougars, and other large predators as "enemies with benefits."

Previously, coyotes were thought to shy away from kill sites out of fear of larger predators. Mountain lions are capable of killing a third of a coyote's population in an area, so it makes sense for the weaker coyotes to be cautious.

But a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows that mesopredators like coyotes frequently steal prey from apex predators despite the risks.

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“It’s certainly possible that even though it’s risky, coyotes just can’t help themselves to freshly-killed deer and the like," said Laura Prugh, a professor at the University of Washington and author of a 2020 paper in Ecology Letters that tackles these relationships in the hierarchy of predators. “It’s also possible, though, that they’re able to assess risk, say, based on how fresh the sign is of the large carnivores or by being more vigilant.”

Coyotes Use Cleverness and Guts in Playing the Cougars' Game

The coyotes' relationship with cougars is quite different from mountain lions, according to the PNAS study.

Cougars are the number one killer of coyotes, and yet a coyote's diet may consist of more than 50% of a cougar's kill. Cougars may at times give coyotes a free meal at their kill sites, but they also kill coyotes in large numbers when they feel like it. It is a very complex behavioral game of risk and reward between the two species.

However, coyotes are aware that by working as a group, their success rate in stealing prey is higher.

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“Coyotes are very vigilant at kill sites," explained Taal Levi, a professor at Oregon State University and co-author of the PNAS study. “They’re usually not alone. There can be alarm calls, multiple eyes and ears looking out, and when you have a group of coyotes, you’ve got some benefit in defense against first identification of a cougar.”

Today, the coyote population continues to rise, and they have become a major problem in both rural and urban areas, where their problems with apex predators are absent.

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Doris de Luna

For more than 20 years now, I’ve been devoting my heart, energy, and time to fulfilling my dream, which – many people may agree – is not among the easiest aspirations in life. Part of my happiness is having been able to lend a hand to many individuals, companies, and even governments as an investigative journalist, creative writer, TV director, and radio broadcaster.


At home, I spend my free time learning how to cook various cuisines. Tiramisu, chocolate mousse, and banoffee pie are my favorite desserts. Playing with our dogs, Mushu and Jerusalem, is also a special part of my day. And, of course, I read a lot – almost anything under the sun. But what really makes me feel alive is meeting people from various walks of life and writing about their stories, which echo with the tears and triumph of an unyielding spirit, humanity, and wisdom.

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