No wild hyenas are native to California. Their natural habitats are primarily in Africa and parts of Asia, not North America.
Hyena Species and Their Natural Habitats
The hyena family, Hyaenidae, consists of four species: the spotted, striped, and brown hyena, and the aardwolf. These carnivorous mammals inhabit regions far from California. All four species have wolf-like body shapes, often with hind legs appearing shorter than their front legs.
Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), also known as laughing hyenas, are the largest and most abundant hyena species. They are widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, thriving in diverse habitats such as savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and semi-deserts. These highly social animals live in female-dominated clans, which can number up to 100 individuals. Spotted hyenas are effective hunters and scavengers, capable of consuming almost an entire carcass, including bones, due to their powerful jaws and specialized digestive systems.
Striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) are smaller than spotted hyenas, reaching about two feet tall at the shoulder. Their range extends across North and East Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. These hyenas typically inhabit arid, mountainous regions with scrub woodland, deserts, and semi-deserts. They are predominantly nocturnal and more solitary than spotted hyenas, often living alone or in pairs. While they can hunt small prey, their diet primarily consists of carrion and human refuse.
Brown hyenas (Parahyaena brunnea), also called strandwolves, are found exclusively in southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana, and parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe. They are the second-largest hyena species, recognized by their shaggy brown fur and long, pointed ears. Brown hyenas prefer desert, semi-desert, and open woodland savanna environments, often surviving near urban areas by scavenging. This species is the rarest among hyenas.
The aardwolf (Proteles cristatus) is the smallest and most insectivorous hyena. Aardwolves inhabit dry, open savannas and grasslands in two distinct African populations: southern Africa and East/Northeast Africa. Unlike other hyenas, their diet consists almost exclusively of termites, which they consume in large quantities. Aardwolves are shy, nocturnal foragers that typically live alone or in pairs, often using abandoned burrows for shelter.
California’s Native Carnivores
While hyenas are not found in California, the state is home to several native carnivores sometimes mistaken for them. Coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions are common throughout various Californian landscapes. Their appearance or vocalizations can sometimes lead to misidentification.
Coyotes (Canis latrans) are widespread across North America, including California. They typically weigh between 25 and 60 pounds and have a slender build with a gray to light tan coat. Coyotes are highly adaptable, inhabiting diverse environments from urban areas to deserts and forests. Their varied vocalizations, including barks, yips, and howls, can create complex “chorus” sounds, sometimes mistaken for a larger group of animals due to their wide range of tones and pitches.
Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are smaller wild cats found throughout California, from rocky mountains to woodlands and suburban areas. They typically have reddish-brown fur with distinctive spots and a short, “bobbed” tail with a white tip. Bobcats are solitary animals, primarily active during crepuscular (dawn and dusk) and nocturnal hours. Their vocalizations include growls, hisses, purrs, and sometimes loud screams, particularly during mating season.
Mountain lions (Puma concolor), also known as cougars or pumas, are California’s largest wild cats. They have plain, tawny-colored coats and long, muscular bodies, weighing between 80 and 180 pounds. Mountain lions are solitary predators, highly adaptable to various habitats, from dense forests to arid lands. Unlike many larger felines, mountain lions cannot roar but produce a range of other vocalizations. These include chirps, whistles, snarls, hisses, growls, and notably, a high-pitched scream that can sound strikingly similar to a human scream.