Expert: Jonathan - 11/4/2009

Question
Hi Johnathon im a hug animal fan and i was wondering if you could answer these questions for me.

Could a Raccoon defend its self against a Coyote or Dingo?

Whats the largest animal a Wolverine could pray on?

Could a Wilderbeast Defeat a Gray Wolf?
Thank You

Answer
Hi Gian! How's it going?

Let's get started:

1. A Raccoon would maybe try and defend itself, but it's out-matched by two bigger canine predators. A Raccoon is too small to successfully fend off a Coyote in particular, which can be surprisingly aggressive against other animals when defending food, pups etc. A raccoon would likely be overpowered by both, despite being agile enough to escape.

A raccoon would never pick such a fight though.

2. The Wolverine can take down, if big enough, small Deer calves such as Elks and Caribou. I can't imagine it taking down anything bigger, due to it's small size.

Wolverines scavange very well though, and can steal much bigger kills off small numbers of wolves, cougars etc.

So yeah, small deer calves are probably as big as their prey gets.

3. A Wildebeest can defeat a Lone Gray Wolf, because the numerical advantage that the Wolves usually have is gone. Wildebeests are resilient and strong animals, and are well-armed with their pounding hooves and hooked horns, that can open up Lionesses and Cheetahs given the opportunity.

The Wolf hasn't the strength to bring down an adult Wildebeest, especially as it can't grab the neck with it's forelimbs to bring it down quickly. It needs a lot more wolves.

The wildebeest wont kill it necessarily, but it will fend the wolf.

Thanks for the great questions!

Keep asking,

Jonathan.