The relationship between the coyote (\(Canis latrans\)) and the mountain lion (\(Puma concolor\)) is a complex ecological dynamic playing out across North America. Both species are major carnivores, but their interactions are far from equal. While both animals occupy overlapping territories and compete for similar food sources, one species consistently acts as the predator to the other. Their shared landscape is governed by an asymmetrical predator-prey relationship where the larger feline dominates the smaller canine.
Disparity in Size and Lifestyle
The physical differences between these two predators establish the hierarchy of their interactions. A mountain lion is a solitary apex predator, typically weighing between 60 and 130 pounds and measuring up to eight feet long from nose to tail. This cat is built for explosive power, relying on stealth and ambush to take down large prey like deer and elk. In contrast, the coyote is a smaller, opportunistic mesocarnivore, generally weighing only 15 to 45 pounds. Coyotes possess a more generalized diet and often hunt alone or in pairs. The sheer disparity in mass and strength means a direct confrontation between a healthy adult mountain lion and a coyote is almost always fatal for the canine. While coyotes are faster, capable of reaching speeds up to 40 miles per hour, this speed is primarily used for evasion, not offense, against the powerful feline.
Mountain Lions as Apex Predators of Coyotes
The mountain lion occasionally preys upon or kills coyotes. This behavior is a form of intraguild predation, where one predator kills a competitor that relies on the same resources. While coyotes are not a primary food source, the mountain lion benefits by eliminating a food rival, particularly during times of resource scarcity. Documented research has shown that mountain lions can be a significant cause of mortality for coyote populations. In some study areas, mountain lions have been responsible for killing approximately one-quarter of all coyotes. These killings are not always driven purely by hunger; they represent a mechanism to protect food caches and reduce competition. Lions sometimes consume the coyotes they kill, confirming the predator-prey aspect of the interaction. Furthermore, a mountain lion may specifically target coyotes near its own kills, viewing them as a threat to its cached food supply.
Coyote Interactions with Mountain Lion Young and Carcasses
A healthy, mature mountain lion possesses overwhelming strength that no single coyote can overcome. The only circumstance where coyotes pose a threat to the feline species is through opportunistic predation on vulnerable mountain lion kittens (kits) when the mother is away from the den. Coyotes may also harass or mob young mountain lions in groups, though these confrontations rarely end in a kill unless the juvenile is cornered or injured. More commonly, the coyote interacts with the mountain lion indirectly through scavenging. Coyotes frequently visit mountain lion kill sites, incorporating the remains of the lion’s prey into their own diet. In some ecosystems, scavenged elk or deer meat from mountain lion kills can make up more than half of a coyote’s food intake, a risky but beneficial strategy often described as “enemies with benefits”.
Territorial Overlap and Resource Scarcity
The conflict between the two species stems from their shared preference for similar large prey, such as deer. This territorial overlap forces coyotes to modulate their behavior to avoid the dominant predator. The presence of mountain lions imposes a “landscape of fear” that dictates where coyotes forage and rest. Coyotes often avoid areas that provide dense cover, which is the favored hunting terrain of the ambush-oriented mountain lion. This spatial avoidance reduces the coyote’s hunting efficiency and limits its use of suitable habitats. Resource scarcity, particularly during harsh winter months, intensifies the competition for limited prey. When food is scarce, the likelihood of a mountain lion engaging in competitive killing of coyotes near its food cache increases, even if the killed coyote is not fully consumed. The coyote’s primary strategy is to survive by balancing the risk of encountering the mountain lion with the reward of scavenging its kills.