Badger and coyote photographed hunting together in rare epic team-up
- 7 years ago
WELLINGTON, COLORADO — Out in the prairie lands near the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center, a tandem of typically fierce competitors have entered the running for nature’s animal odd couple of the year.
Photographs of a wild coyote and a North American badger have been taken over the course of the past month and released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The pictures have nature enthusiasts across the internet wanting to learn more about their fascinating work as partners.
The coyote and the badger share a common appetite for prairie dogs, marmots, and ground squirrels, but each have their own strategies for securing their meals. The quick-footed coyote is adept at chasing down and pouncing on its prey. Rodents give themselves a chance to survive by diving into burrows and escaping underground. The badger, meanwhile, is an expert at excavation, known for its supreme digging skills, able to unearth its dinner within seconds. If the rodent manages to get to the surface, it might actually have a shot at outrunning its more sluggish killer.
When the two team up, that’s when prey animals find themselves at a disadvantage, with the coyote covering the surface, and the badger handling the underground. The duo of carnivores has been observed trekking across parts of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Typically, they’re most likely to form an allegiance during the summer months, as the badger has enough success on its own with smaller animals hiding underground in the thick of winter.
While working together does breed some notable benefits, that doesn’t mean the two are interested in sharing meals. Generally, the animal who makes the kill has the pleasure of eating its feast.
Photographs of a wild coyote and a North American badger have been taken over the course of the past month and released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The pictures have nature enthusiasts across the internet wanting to learn more about their fascinating work as partners.
The coyote and the badger share a common appetite for prairie dogs, marmots, and ground squirrels, but each have their own strategies for securing their meals. The quick-footed coyote is adept at chasing down and pouncing on its prey. Rodents give themselves a chance to survive by diving into burrows and escaping underground. The badger, meanwhile, is an expert at excavation, known for its supreme digging skills, able to unearth its dinner within seconds. If the rodent manages to get to the surface, it might actually have a shot at outrunning its more sluggish killer.
When the two team up, that’s when prey animals find themselves at a disadvantage, with the coyote covering the surface, and the badger handling the underground. The duo of carnivores has been observed trekking across parts of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Typically, they’re most likely to form an allegiance during the summer months, as the badger has enough success on its own with smaller animals hiding underground in the thick of winter.
While working together does breed some notable benefits, that doesn’t mean the two are interested in sharing meals. Generally, the animal who makes the kill has the pleasure of eating its feast.