Across the diverse landscapes of North America, two prominent carnivores, the mountain lion (Puma concolor) and the coyote (Canis latrans), frequently share territories. Both species occupy positions as apex predators within their respective ecological niches. The mountain lion, a solitary hunter, primarily targets larger prey, while the highly adaptable coyote thrives on a broader diet. This shared environment often leads to interactions between these two species.
Mountain Lion Predation on Coyotes
Mountain lions do prey on coyotes, though coyotes typically do not represent a primary food source for them. This predation is often opportunistic, occurring when a mountain lion encounters a coyote, especially a lone individual. Mountain lions are considerably larger and more powerful than coyotes, with adult mountain lions weighing an average of 180 pounds compared to a coyote’s average of 35 pounds. This size disparity gives mountain lions a substantial advantage in direct confrontations.
When a mountain lion targets a coyote, it employs the same ambush hunting strategy used for deer and other larger prey. The big cat stalks silently, using terrain and vegetation for cover, before launching a powerful, explosive sprint and leap. While coyotes are smaller than mountain lions’ preferred prey like deer, they are still a viable food source, and their remains are sometimes found in mountain lion diets. A study in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park documented mountain lions killing coyotes in 13 out of 58 observed direct interactions over four years.
Factors Influencing This Interaction
The interaction between mountain lions and coyotes is influenced by habitat overlap and resource availability. Both species inhabit similar areas across North America, leading to potential encounters. When preferred prey, such as deer, becomes scarce, mountain lions may increase their opportunistic predation on other available animals, including coyotes.
Mountain lions also play a role in regulating coyote populations within shared ecosystems. Research indicates that a strong mountain lion presence can exert pressure on coyote numbers through direct predation and competitive exclusion. For instance, studies in Utah and Colorado have shown that a decline in mountain lion populations, due to hunting or habitat loss, often correlates with a subsequent increase in coyote populations, sometimes by 25-50% within two years. This demonstrates the influence of mountain lions as a top predator in maintaining ecological balance.
Coyote Responses to Predation
Coyotes have developed behavioral adaptations to minimize predation risk from mountain lions. Avoidance is a primary defense, utilizing keen senses to detect mountain lions from a distance. When confronted, a lone coyote typically attempts to flee, relying on its superior endurance and agility to escape through dense vegetation or rugged terrain, where the mountain lion’s size can be a disadvantage. Coyotes can reach speeds of 35-40 mph in short bursts, outrunning mountain lions which typically run around 30 mph.
Coyotes may also adjust their activity patterns to avoid mountain lions, such as increasing nocturnal movements in areas with high mountain lion activity. While individual coyotes are vulnerable, group dynamics can alter the outcome of encounters. A pack of coyotes, typically ranging from 3 to 7 individuals, can sometimes drive off a mountain lion from a kill through coordinated harassment, though this is rare and usually occurs when defending pups or during extreme hunger. Coyotes also demonstrate vigilance at kill sites, with multiple individuals providing alarm calls and defensive benefits against larger predators.