Is a hyena a predator or prey?

Answer 1

No predator actually eats the hyenas but they are vulnerable to diseases and parasites.
Enemies of the hyena include lions, dogs, and other hyenas. Hyenas are known to eat whatever they can get their hands on, include wildebeest and dead animals.

Answer 2

Spotted Hyenas, the largest species of hyena, are chiefly predators, hunting from 90% to 95% of their food; the remainder comes from scavenging.

Spotted Hyenas and Brown Hyenas, the next largest species are mostly scavengers.

The Aardwolf, the smallest hyena, eats only termites.

While no animals prey on Spotted Hyena as a source of food, lions kill them whenever possible but do not eat them. This is likely because there is considerable overlap between the animals they prey upon, and Spotted Hyenas represent serious competition for lions food source.

Spotted Hyenas were thought to be scavengers of lion kills until studies began following them at night, and the reverse was found to be true: Spotted Hyenas kill at night, and lions frequently steal their kills shortly after they are made. The Spotted Hyenas would wait patiently at a safe but close distance for the lions to be done, usually after day break. The sight of them waiting at lion kills gave rise to the misconception they scavenge from lions.

Sources:

Wikipedia articles on Spotted Hyena, Striped Hyena, Brown Hyena, and Aardwolf;

Smithsonian Magazine, "Who's Laughing Now," May 2008, online at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/hyena.html

Michigan State University Spotted Hyena Research FAQ, online at http://special.news.msu.edu/hyena/spotted_hyena.php?hyenas

Hans Kruuk, The Spotted Hyena: A Study of Predation and Social Behavior, University of Chicago Press, 1972

Answer 3

Although many people think that a hyena does not preyed on, due to its extremely strong jaws. In fact the hyena has many natural predators. These include tiny bacteria, to a giant black bear! Humans, bears, tigers, lions, crocs, sharks, leapords, pumas, cheetahs and even wolverines prey on the hyena.

So a hyena definetly gets preyed on specifically by humans!

Answer 4

All predators can get preyed on, depending on what it is. So yes, even hyenas get preyed on. Although hyenas have been know to bite through really strong things including: bones, wood and even soft rock, which makes them have the strongest jaws on land. Hyenas may seem invincable, taking on: moose, buffalo, lions, and even Bengal tigers. However sharks have the strongest jaws on earth, and if any hyena even thousands of them came in contact with a shark the chances of them to survive would be nearlly impossible!

So the answer is most definetly yes!

Answer 5

A single hyena could become the prey of a pride of lions. A group of hyenas (if enough in number) could drive a pride of lions off their kill.

Answer 6

Spotted Hyenas kill almost all of their meals while Striped hyenas scavenge. It depends on the hyena.

Answer 7

Yes a hyena is a predator.

Answer 8

Hyenas' predators are lions and humans.

Answer 9

Predator mostly.