Coyotes are adaptable canids that have successfully occupied nearly every terrestrial habitat in North America, including harsh desert ecosystems like the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan deserts. Their resilience and opportunistic nature establish them as the dominant mesopredator across much of their range. While coyotes often prey on smaller mammals, they are also subject to predation and lethal competition from larger animals. They must constantly navigate threats from larger carnivores and aggressive competitors.
Apex Mammalian Predators
The most significant natural threat to an adult coyote in the desert environment is the mountain lion, also known as a puma or cougar. Mountain lions are solitary, ambush hunters whose size and strength allow them to overpower and kill a mature coyote. In many desert ecosystems, the cougar is the only large predator capable of consistently preying on coyotes.
A mature mountain lion can weigh over 150 pounds, giving it a substantial size advantage over the average desert coyote, which typically weighs between 20 and 30 pounds. Predation often occurs when a coyote is alone and unaware, falling victim to the cougar’s powerful surprise attack. The primary motivation for this predation is sustenance, as the coyote represents a viable food source where large prey can be scarce.
In some desert or semi-arid ranges, larger canids like the reintroduced Mexican Wolf pose an additional threat to coyotes. Although these wolves are not widespread, their presence introduces a significant risk of intraguild predation.
Avian Hunters Targeting Coyote Pups
While adult coyotes face threats from large mammalian carnivores, the young are the most vulnerable segment of the population. Coyote pups and juveniles are frequently targeted by powerful avian hunters, particularly Golden Eagles and Great Horned Owls. These raptors employ an opportunistic strategy, focusing on young coyotes that have wandered away from the protection of the den or their parents.
Golden Eagles, with their immense wingspans and powerful talons, can capture and carry away coyote pups directly from the ground or near the den site. This aerial threat is potent during the spring and early summer when pups are small and dependent on the den. Great Horned Owls, active during the desert night, may also prey on smaller pups, taking advantage of the darkness to approach undetected.
These avian attacks target animals less than six months old, as their size makes them manageable prey for a raptor. The loss of pups represents a consistent source of mortality for coyote families. The parents must remain vigilant, as a momentary lapse in supervision can expose their offspring to an attack from above.
Mortality Through Interspecies Competition
A major cause of coyote mortality that mimics predation is lethal interspecies competition, where the goal is resource exclusion rather than consumption. In areas where they coexist, large canids such as the Gray Wolf or the Mexican Wolf actively kill coyotes to reduce competition for food and territory. This behavior is known as intraguild killing, and it accounts for a significant percentage of deaths, especially for transient or subordinate coyotes.
In conflict zones, interactions between a wolf and a coyote often occur near a carcass, where wolves assert dominance to secure the scavenging opportunity. Although wolves usually dominate these encounters, they do not always consume the carcass of the smaller canid they kill. Studies show that a substantial portion of coyote deaths linked to wolves are driven by territorial and competitive aggression.
The presence of feral dogs can also lead to lethal conflict, especially in desert areas bordering human settlements. Packs of feral dogs may view coyotes as intruders or competitors, leading to violent confrontations that result in the coyote’s death. These interspecific conflicts are a harsh reality of resource defense in the desert ecosystem.