There are many unusual friendships between different species in the world. One of those friendships is the one between a coyote and badger who usually help each other.
A coyote was filmed encouraging a very slow badger to get into a culvert in order to pass under a highway somewhere in California. The video quickly went viral and people absolutely loved it!
According to a post on Reddit, coyotes, and badgers “can be observed hunting together.” I guess we learn something new every day, right? In a post on Reddit, user Chopperhead2011 wrote: “badgers will pursue prairie dogs underground since they’re adept at digging and not quick on their feet (paws?), while the coyote keeps an eye out for escaping prey since he’s more suited for chasing them down.”
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Two other species who tend to hunt together are groupers and moray eels. Nature is always fascinating and never stops surprising us. But as it turns out, coyotes and badgers aren’t always best friends. Sometimes they even hunt each other!
Although coyotes and badgers may seem like rivals, cooperation is the best hunting strategy for both species. Both of them seem to strategize that it would be so much better to be hunting partners even if one of them ends up empty-handed on some hunts. When they hunt together, they increase the chances that at least one of them will catch a midnight snack.
According to the authors of the National Elk Refuge study coyotes and badgers spent more time below ground and they may have had decreased locomotion and excavation costs. It’s safe to say that prey vulnerability appeared to increase when both carnivores hunted together.
It’s best to say see the relationship between badgers and coyotes and badgers as an open relationship.
