Badger-Coyote Associations Note: This online review is updated and revised continuously, as soon as results of new scientific research become available. It therefore presents state-of-the-art information on the topic it covers. North American Badgers (Taxidea taxus) and Coyotes (Canis latrans) are sometimes seen hunting together. Reports of this interesting interaction come from many parts of Canada, the United States and Mexico. In this review, we summarize all that is currently known about Badger-Coyote associations. Number of Participants Badger-Coyote associations usually consist of a single Badger hunting with a single Coyote. For example, on the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming, Minta et al. (1992) studied Coyotes and Badgers hunting together for Uinta Ground Squirrels. In 90% of the cases, a single Badger hunted with a single Coyote. In 9% of the cases, a single Badger hunted with a Coyote pair. In only 1% of the cases did a single Badger hunt with a group of three Coyotes. Animals hunted by Badger-Coyote Teams Badgers and Coyotes collaborate to catch burrowing rodents. Scientists have observed Badgers and Coyotes hunting together for the following prey: Uinta Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus armatus)

Richardson's Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii)

Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)

Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) References: Cahalane (1950); Thompson (1979); Kiliaan (1991); Minta et al. (1992). Duration of Badger-Coyote Associations Minta et al. (1992) timed over 214 Badger-Coyote associations and found that half of them lasted more than an hour. Two lasted more than 5 hours. Advantages of Cooperation for Badgers and Coyotes Badgers and Coyotes catch ground squirrels differently. Badgers usually dig them up, coyotes pounce on them or chase them. Ground squirrels often escape a digging Badgers by leaving their underground burrows and running away across the surface of the ground. These same ground squirrels escape Coyotes by running into burrows and disappearing underground. A ground squirrel will theoretically have less chance to escape a Badger and a Coyote hunting together. If it runs away from the coyote by going underground into a burrow, the Badger will dig it up. If it leaves a burrow to escape the Badger, the Coyote will run after it and catch it. Minta et al. (1992) attempted to test these ideas, but were only partly successful. Although they found that Coyotes hunting with Badgers captured 34% more ground squirrels than Coyotes hunting alone, their results were not statistically significant (P=0.087; one-tailed test). In addition, they could not determine if Badgers captured more ground squirrels when hunting with Coyotes because Badgers caught and ate their prey underground, where Minta and his fellow researchers could not observe them. Badger-Coyote Interactions are Varied Although Badgers and Coyotes often hunt together, they do not always do so. For example, at two sites in Central Oregon, Badgers and Coyotes hunted separately, while at a site in Southeastern Oregon they were often observed hunting together (Thompson 1979; Minta et al. 1992). Coyotes sometimes eat Badgers and vice versa, but the majority of their interactions appear to be mutually beneficial or neutral (Kiliaan et al. 1991). Because Badgers and Coyotes become shy and secretive when persecuted by humans, the best places to observe them hunting together are often in protected areas such as parks and refuges (Minta et al. 1992). References Aughey S (1884) Curious companionship of the Coyote and the Badger. American Naturalist 18: 644-645 Cahalane VH (1950) Badger-coyote "partnerships." Journal of Mammalogy 31:354-355 Hawkins AH (1907) Coyote and Badger. Ottawa Naturalist 21:37 Kiliaan HPL, Mamo C, Paquet PC (1991) A Coyote, Canis latrans, and Badger, Taxidea taxus, interaction near Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Alberta. Canadian Field-Naturalist 105: 122-123 Lehner PN (1981) Coyote-badger associations. Great Basin Naturalist 41: 347-348 Minta SC, Minta KA, Lott DF (1992) Hunting associations between Badgers (Taxidea taxus) and Coyotes (Canis latrans). Journal of Mammalogy 73: 814-820 Thompson SE (1979) Socio-ecology of the Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) in central Oregon. PhD Dissertation. University of California, Berkeley Information about this Review This review is also available in the following languages: Spanish The photo at the top of the page was taken in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, by Curt Matlock (USA). The author is: Dr. Paul D. Haemig (PhD in Animal Ecology). The proper citation is: Haemig PD 2012 Badger-Coyote Associations. ECOLOGY.INFO #11. If you are aware of any important scientific publications about Badger-Coyote associations that were omitted from this review, or have other suggestions for improving it, please contact the author at his e-mail address: director {at} ecology.info © Copyright 2003- 2012 Ecology Online Sweden. All rights reserved.