General Question

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

Do predators eat other predators?

Asked by RedDeerGuy1 (24463points) August 31st, 2020

Like a wolf pack vs. a lion pride?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

14 Answers

zenvelo's avatar

Yes, predators eat other predators. But what you are describing is two “apex predators”, meaning there aren’t predators that generally attack and eat them.

But lions will eat crocodiles they catch out of the water, and crocodiles will eat lions that go for a drink.

Mountain lions eat foxes and coyotes, a good example of predators eating another predator.

Wolves only do well in a pack, but may get killed if by themselves.

But grizzly bears and mountain lions generally leave each other alone unless provoked or one is weakened.

Caravanfan's avatar

Of course. It’s not like there is professional courtesy or anything.

SergeantQueen's avatar

Yes they do.

Also, Humans are considered predators and we sometimes in rare cases eat each other so. That counts right?

Darth_Algar's avatar

Predators? Sure. Apex predators? Generally not. Predatory animals generally tend to avoid other animals that pose just as much of a danger to themselves.

kritiper's avatar

Yes.
I’ve seen chipmunks eat the carcasses of other chipmunks, if that matters…

Jack London wrote that the law of the wild was
“Kill or be killed.
Eat or be eaten.”

Darth_Algar's avatar

Chipmunks aren’t predatory animals though. They’re foragers and scavengers.

LostInParadise's avatar

Cats eat birds, which eat insects and worms.

SEKA's avatar

Yes, human’s are considered predators. Most wild lions live in Africa and wolves don’t, so not many wolves to hunt. I bet that if you dropped off a wolf near a lion, it wouldn’t live for over 30 seconds. Lions will take down a hyena before the hyena can make it to the gazelle that it’s chasing

Darth_Algar's avatar

By the same token, a lion wouldn’t last long against a pack of wolves.

kritiper's avatar

I always thought chipmunks were herbivores…

Darth_Algar's avatar

They’re omnivorous. Most mammals are. Mostly they forage for the typical plant stuff, but they will scavenge meat if they come across it.

kritiper's avatar

My point was that if hungry enough, animals might eat just about anything. Predators are no exception.

Darth_Algar's avatar

So you pick an animal that’s about as far away from predatory as it gets for your example? Alrighty then…

kritiper's avatar

I guess you missed the part where I said, ”..if that matters…”
In other words, take it or leave it.

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