Coyotes might seem like fierce predators themselves, but they’re far from the top of the food chain. While you’ve probably seen coyotes prowling neighborhoods or heard their distinctive howls at night, these mid-sized canines face serious threats from larger, more powerful animals.
Understanding what animals eat coyotes reveals a fascinating picture of nature’s hierarchy and helps explain why coyotes behave the way they do—often traveling in packs, staying alert, and avoiding certain territories.
You’re about to discover eight formidable predators that successfully hunt and kill coyotes, from massive bears to lightning-fast eagles.
1. Wolves
Wolves (Canis lupus) stand as the most significant natural predator of coyotes across North America. These apex predators don’t just compete with coyotes for food—they actively hunt and kill them to eliminate competition in their territories.
Pro Tip: In areas where wolf populations have been reintroduced, coyote numbers typically drop by 40-50% within just a few years.
Gray wolves are substantially larger than coyotes, weighing between 70-110 pounds compared to a coyote’s 20-50 pounds. This size advantage, combined with wolves’ pack hunting strategies, makes encounters between the two species almost always fatal for coyotes. Wolves view coyotes as both competitors and prey, and they’ll pursue them relentlessly when detected in their territory.
The dynamic between these canines plays a crucial role in ecosystem balance. Research from Yellowstone National Park shows that wolf reintroduction dramatically reduced coyote populations, which in turn allowed smaller prey species like foxes and rodents to recover. Wolves don’t typically eat the entire coyote carcass—they often kill and leave them as a territorial statement.
You’ll find this predator-prey relationship strongest in wilderness areas where wolf populations thrive. In places like Montana, Wyoming, and parts of Canada, wolves maintain dominance through aggressive territorial behavior. When wolves detect coyotes through scent marking or visual contact, they coordinate pack attacks that give coyotes virtually no chance of escape.
2. Mountain Lions
Mountain lions (Puma concolor), also called cougars or pumas, are solitary ambush predators that occasionally prey on coyotes throughout their range in North and South America. These powerful cats weigh between 80-220 pounds and possess the stealth and strength to take down prey much larger than themselves.
Unlike wolves that hunt coyotes primarily for territorial reasons, mountain lions may actually consume coyotes as a food source, particularly when their preferred prey like deer is scarce. Their hunting strategy relies on patience and explosive speed—they stalk silently, then launch a devastating attack from close range, typically targeting the neck or head for a quick kill.
Common Mistake: Many people assume mountain lions avoid coyotes entirely, but studies show that coyotes make up 1-5% of mountain lion diets in certain regions, especially during winter months when hunting is more challenging.
The relationship between mountain lions and coyotes varies by season and location. In mountainous regions of California, Colorado, and British Columbia, trail camera footage has captured numerous instances of mountain lions successfully hunting coyotes. These encounters typically occur at dawn or dusk when both species are most active.
Your chances of witnessing this predator-prey interaction are slim since mountain lions are extremely elusive. However, biologists studying mountain lion scat and kill sites have confirmed that coyotes appear as prey items more frequently than previously thought. The solitary nature of mountain lions means they target lone coyotes rather than packs, using their superior strength and ambush tactics to overcome the coyote’s speed advantage.
3. Bears
Both grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and black bears (Ursus americanus) will kill and eat coyotes when opportunities arise, though coyotes don’t represent a primary food source for these omnivores. Bears possess overwhelming size and power advantages that make any confrontation decidedly one-sided.
Grizzly bears, weighing up to 800 pounds, are particularly dangerous to coyotes in areas where their territories overlap, such as Alaska, Montana, and parts of Canada. These massive predators have been observed killing coyotes that venture too close to bear food sources or dens, especially during spring when bears emerge from hibernation with aggressive appetites.
Black bears are more widespread and, despite being smaller (typically 200-400 pounds), still pose a significant threat to coyotes. While black bears prefer vegetation, insects, and carrion, they’re opportunistic feeders that won’t hesitate to kill a coyote if the situation presents itself. Mothers with cubs are especially aggressive and will attack any potential threat, including coyotes.
Key Insight: Bear predation on coyotes increases dramatically near salmon streams in the Pacific Northwest, where both species congregate and competition for fish resources triggers violent encounters.
The interaction between bears and coyotes often involves food competition rather than active hunting. Coyotes may attempt to scavenge from bear kills, but this risky behavior can result in their death if the bear returns and catches them. Research from Yellowstone indicates that bears kill coyotes most frequently during carcass disputes, where the bear’s superior strength quickly ends the conflict.
You’ll notice that coyotes exhibit extreme caution in bear country, often abandoning areas when bears are detected. This behavioral adaptation helps coyotes avoid confrontations, but it also restricts their access to prime hunting grounds during certain seasons.
4. Alligators
Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) represent an unexpected but effective predator of coyotes in the southeastern United States, particularly in states like Florida, Louisiana, and Georgia. These ancient reptiles occupy wetland habitats where coyotes come to drink, hunt, or cross waterways—creating deadly opportunities for ambush.
Adult alligators average 10-15 feet in length and possess one of the strongest bite forces in the animal kingdom, measuring over 2,900 pounds per square inch. When a coyote approaches water, an alligator can launch from below the surface with explosive speed, clamping its jaws around the coyote before dragging it underwater to drown. This attack method is devastatingly effective and nearly impossible for the coyote to escape.
The predator-prey relationship between alligators and coyotes is purely opportunistic. Alligators don’t actively hunt coyotes on land, but they’re ambush specialists perfectly adapted to catching any animal that ventures within striking distance of water. Wildlife cameras near Florida swamps have documented multiple instances of alligators successfully capturing coyotes at water’s edge.
Important Note: Coyote remains have been found in alligator stomach contents during wildlife surveys, confirming that these reptiles both kill and consume coyotes as part of their varied diet.
You should understand that this predation occurs primarily during warmer months when alligators are most active and coyotes face water scarcity that forces them to take risks. During drought conditions, the interaction rate increases significantly as coyotes must visit shrinking water sources where alligators concentrate.
The geographic overlap between these species has expanded as coyote populations have moved into more southern regions over the past few decades. This has created new ecological dynamics where coyotes must navigate not just mammalian and avian predators, but also reptilian threats they didn’t historically encounter in their original range.
5. Bobcats
Bobcats (Lynx rufus) rarely prey on coyotes due to similar size ranges, but confrontations do occur and can result in coyote deaths, particularly when involving young or weakened individuals. Adult bobcats typically weigh 15-35 pounds, making them smaller than most adult coyotes, yet their fierce territorial nature and fighting prowess make them surprisingly formidable opponents.
The relationship between bobcats and coyotes is more competitive than predatory. Both species hunt similar prey—rabbits, rodents, and ground-dwelling birds—which creates territorial tensions. When these confrontations escalate, the outcome depends heavily on the individuals involved. A large, experienced bobcat can kill a juvenile or smaller coyote, especially if the bobcat has the element of surprise.
Pro Tip: Bobcat attacks on coyotes most commonly occur when protecting kittens or a fresh kill, rather than as active predation for food purposes.
Research data from various wildlife studies shows that while bobcats killing coyotes is uncommon, it’s not rare in areas where both species exist in high densities. Trail camera evidence from Texas, Arizona, and California has captured aggressive encounters where bobcats successfully defended territories against coyotes. These fights are brutal and often result in serious injuries or death for the losing animal.
You’ll find that coyotes generally avoid direct confrontations with bobcats when possible, as even a winning fight can result in injuries that compromise hunting ability. The relationship showcases nature’s complexity—where animals of similar size must constantly assess risk versus reward when occupying overlapping territories.
In regions where larger predators like wolves or mountain lions are absent, the bobcat-coyote dynamic becomes more pronounced. Without top predators regulating populations, both species compete more intensely for resources, leading to increased conflict and occasional predation events.
6. Lynxes
Lynxes, particularly the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), occasionally kill coyotes in their northern range, though this occurs far less frequently than with other predators on this list. Lynxes are specialized hunters adapted for deep snow and cold climates, weighing 18-40 pounds with distinctive ear tufts and large, snowshoe-like paws.
The interaction between lynxes and coyotes is primarily competitive rather than predatory. Both species occupy boreal forests and northern ecosystems, but lynxes specialize almost exclusively in hunting snowshoe hares, while coyotes maintain more varied diets. This dietary difference reduces direct competition, but territorial disputes still arise.
Key Insight: Climate change and shifting prey populations are increasing overlap between lynx and coyote territories, creating more frequent encounters than historically recorded.
When confrontations occur, the outcome is unpredictable. Lynxes possess sharp retractable claws and quick reflexes that give them advantages in close combat, but coyotes have superior endurance and often travel in family groups. A lone lynx facing a single coyote might successfully defend itself or even gain the upper hand, but against multiple coyotes, the lynx would typically retreat or risk serious injury.
Documentation of lynxes killing coyotes comes primarily from northern Canada and Alaska, where wildlife biologists have found evidence of fatal encounters during winter months. These incidents appear to occur most often during resource scarcity when both species are under nutritional stress and less likely to back down from confrontations.
You should recognize that lynx predation on coyotes is extremely rare compared to other predators discussed here. The limited interaction stems from both behavioral differences and habitat preferences that keep the species largely separated despite range overlap.
7. Golden Eagles
Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) represent one of the most impressive avian predators of coyotes, though they almost exclusively target coyote pups and juveniles rather than full-grown adults. These powerful raptors have wingspans reaching 7 feet and possess talons capable of exerting over 400 pounds of pressure per square inch.
Adult golden eagles weigh 7-14 pounds, making them far smaller than adult coyotes, but their aerial hunting advantages and devastating talon strikes allow them to successfully kill young coyotes. Eagles hunt by soaring at high altitudes, using their exceptional eyesight to spot vulnerable prey, then diving at speeds exceeding 150 miles per hour to strike with lethal precision.
Common Mistake: While golden eagles do kill coyote pups, exaggerated stories of eagles carrying away full-grown coyotes are largely mythical—the size and weight differences make this physically impossible.
The predation relationship between golden eagles and coyotes is most significant during spring and early summer when coyote pups are small and vulnerable. Young coyotes weighing under 15 pounds are within the hunting capability of large golden eagles, particularly in open terrain where the eagle can approach without detection. Research from western states shows that eagle predation can account for 5-10% of coyote pup mortality in certain regions.
You’ll find this predatory relationship strongest in mountainous and prairie environments where golden eagles thrive and coyotes raise pups in exposed dens. The Great Plains, Rocky Mountain foothills, and desert Southwest provide ideal conditions for golden eagle hunting, with minimal tree cover allowing clear aerial approaches.
Coyote parents actively defend against eagle attacks, and adult coyotes will mob and harass eagles that venture too close to den sites. This protective behavior significantly reduces successful eagle predation, but lone or wandering pups remain vulnerable to these skilled aerial hunters.
8. Humans
Humans represent the most significant threat to coyote populations worldwide, killing more coyotes than all natural predators combined. Unlike other predators that kill coyotes for food or territory, humans hunt coyotes for various reasons including livestock protection, population management, fur harvesting, and sport hunting.
The methods humans use to kill coyotes are diverse and highly effective. These include firearms (rifles and shotguns), trapping, poisoning in some jurisdictions, aerial hunting, and calling techniques that lure coyotes within range. Professional wildlife management agencies and private individuals kill hundreds of thousands of coyotes annually across North America alone.
Important Note: Despite intensive hunting pressure and no closed season in most areas, coyote populations have actually expanded their range significantly over the past century, demonstrating remarkable adaptability.
The human-coyote relationship is complex and controversial. Ranchers and farmers view coyotes as threats to livestock, particularly sheep, goats, and calves, leading to extensive control programs. Wildlife managers conduct population control in areas where coyote numbers threaten ground-nesting birds or other sensitive species. Additionally, the fur trade creates economic incentives for coyote hunting, with pelts used for trim and clothing.
You might be surprised to learn that human predation has actually shaped coyote behavior and evolution. Coyotes have responded to hunting pressure by becoming more nocturnal, more wary, and by increasing their reproductive rates—females in heavily hunted populations often produce larger litters to compensate for losses. This adaptability explains why coyotes now inhabit every U.S. state and have expanded into urban environments where hunting is restricted.
The debate surrounding coyote hunting continues, with some arguing it’s necessary for ecosystem management and livestock protection, while others question its effectiveness and ethics. Studies show that removing coyotes from an area often results in rapid population recovery as neighboring coyotes move in to fill the vacant territory, raising questions about long-term control strategies.
Modern research suggests that non-lethal methods like livestock guardian dogs, better animal husbandry practices, and habitat management may provide more sustainable approaches to human-coyote coexistence than widespread hunting alone.
Conclusion
Understanding what animals kill and eat coyotes reveals the complex web of predator-prey relationships in North American ecosystems.
From massive grizzly bears and coordinated wolf packs to stealthy mountain lions and opportunistic alligators, coyotes face threats from multiple directions. Even aerial predators like golden eagles pose risks to young coyotes, while smaller competitors like bobcats and lynxes can prove deadly under certain circumstances.
Yet despite this impressive list of predators, coyotes have not only survived but thrived, expanding their range across the continent.
Their success stems from remarkable adaptability, intelligence, and behavioral flexibility that allows them to coexist with—and sometimes outwit—much larger and more powerful animals.
The most impactful predator remains humans, whose management decisions and hunting practices shape coyote populations more than any natural predator.
As you’ve learned, the relationship between coyotes and their predators reflects broader ecological principles about competition, territory, and survival—reminding us that even skilled hunters face their own significant threats in the wild.
