"Coyotes and badgers are known to hunt together and can even be more successful hunting prairie dogs and ground-squirrels when they work in tandem"............"Studies have shown that this unusual relationship is beneficial for both species"..............."The coyote can chase down prey if it runs and the badger can dig after prey if it heads underground into its burrow systems"

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Spotted! A Coyote and Badger Hunting Together

November 2, 2016

Recent sightings of a coyote and badger on the prairie surrounding the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center brought attention to a fascinating example of partnership.

Coyotes and badgers are known to hunt together and can even be more successful hunting prairie dogs and ground-squirrels when they work in tandem.

Coyote and badger at Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center. Kimberly Fraser, USFWS 

Studies have shown that this unusual relationship is beneficial for both species. The coyote can chase down prey if it runs and the badger can dig after prey if it heads underground into its burrow systems. 

Coyote and badger at Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center.

Each partner in this unlikely duo brings a skill the other one lacks. Together they are both faster and better diggers than the burrowing rodents they hunt.

These partnerships tend to emerge during the warmer months. In the winter, the badger can dig up hibernating prey as it sleeps in its burrow. It has no need for the fleet-footed coyote.

Coyote and badger at Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center. Kimberly Fraser, USFWS

Coyotes and badgers have a sort of open relationship. They will sometimes hunt together; but they also often hunt on their own.

Coyote and badger at Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center. Kimberly Fraser, USFWS

Each species is a treat to see, but together is even more fascinating and special!

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 Just a few of the studies on this pairing:

Minta, Steven C., Kathryn A. Minta, and Dale F. Lott. "Hunting associations between badgers (Taxidea taxus) and coyotes (Canis latrans)." Journal of Mammalogy 73.4 (1992): 814-820.

Macdonald, David W. "The ecology of carnivore social behaviour." Nature 301.5899 (1983): 379-384.

Cahalane, Victor H. "Badger-coyote “partnerships”." Journal of Mammalogy 31.3 (1950): 354-355.

# Posted By | 11/6/16 6:40 AM

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 Review article here http://www.ecology.info/badger-coyote.htm

2/3/20, 8:11 PM A coyote and a badger use a culvert as a wildlife crossing to pass under a busy California highway together. Coyotes and badgers are known to hunt together. 🎥Peninsula Open Space Trust pic.twitter.com/oS9BL5JOoK