Aren't hyenas both scavengers and bone crushers?
this post was submitted on 03 May 2025
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Heard this too, our guide on safari in Etosha National Park (Namibia) said Hyenas have the strongest biting power - comparative to their overall sizes - in the world.
EDIT: okay, just fact checked myself - that's not entirely true. when measuring BFQ (comparative to size) the order goes:
- Tasmanian devil
- Jaguar
- Wolverine
- Spotted Hyena
+1,000 for Wolverines ... I have a whole bunch of old family including my father who were hunters and trappers in northern Ontario. We're Indigenous Cree / Ojibway and I've never seen a wolverine ever in the north but all my old relatives either talk about them with fear or animosity. These old hunters and trappers respected bears, revered wolves and were absolutely terrified of wolverines .... they describe them as being as intelligent as a wolf, as powerful as a bear and as arrogant and fearless as a skunk. There was a reason why these animals were hunted to near extinction in the Canadian wilderness ... they had no equal and these animals were not afraid of anyone including humans. They were hunted and killed on sight because they were actual competition to traditional hunters and they will even tear apart any trapped animal and ruin a kill.
Bears will stand their ground but have a timidness to anything unusual and will often gauge a situation and more often than not just leave. Wolves will actively try to avoid even meeting people and they will sense you before you even seen and disappear. But if you ever come across a wolverine, you are in trouble.
I've had a lot of wildlife encounters, including bears, wolves and moose, but seeing a wolverine is the only time I've ever removed the safety from my bear spray, and one of the few times I've started to psych myself up mentally to fight an animal.
Luckily it was pretty much a non story, I was hiking up a forest service road in western Montana on the Pacific Northwest Trail, and heard a noise behind me. I turned to see what looked like a 4ft tall badger trundle out of the bush about 40 feet back. It kinda stood or sat up on its back legs and we locked eyes for moment as I drew and readied bear spray. The moment passed and it slumped back to all fours and just ambled away down the forest service road away from me.
"oh fuck is that a wolverine? nope nope nope"
"oh fuck is that bear spray? nope nope nope"
If you know an animal can't be reasoned with it instantly becomes much scarier.
They were hunted and killed on sight because they were actual competition to traditional hunters
Same in large parts of Northern Europe btw. Can't say I'm sad about it 😅
Hmm, a Tasmanian Devil looks like someone crossed a bear and a rat.
Funny thing about your list is 3 of those animals are in the same family
The teeth would seem to suggest that yeah
They are "everything-they-can-sink-their-teeth-into'res".
They'll take down lions if they know they have them out numbered.
Poor Scar. Shared the same philosophy with Hopper in Bug's Life. Keep the ants down and not aware of their numbers, you can be king.
Why yes,
Hyenas are what you get if you take a cat build and use a mix of dog and vulture play style.
Pretty OP, not gonna lie
They do eat bones, but spotted hyenas scavenge/hunt about as much as lions do.
It's usually actually the lions which scavenge hyena kills, not the other way around.
It was, until recently, believed that Lions were the so called 'king of the beasts' and that they lauded over all but studies have found that in many areas Hyenas are dominant over Lions.
In many areas of Africa the Hyena hunts more food than it scavengers and Lions scavenge more than they hunt. Hyenas react very differently to male and female Lions.
https://www.botswana.co.za/Botswana_Wildlife_Behaviour-travel/the-predator-chain.html
Hyenas teeth are scary
Hyenas reproductive system is terrifying
Hummm, their reproduction system? Tell me more...
It involves giving birth through a “pseudo penis”.
Wait, whaaaaat??!?!
Not great. I said it was terrifying.
I "heard" that title to the tune of "Immigrant Song"
My, what nice teeth you have, Mr Wolf. Mr Hyena is overdue for a cleaning, maybe some invisaligns.
Awww sleepy forbidden puppies 🥹
It's close, but aren't hyenas technically feline?
They are under felifomia which are cat like, but includes stuff that are not true cats as well. But they are closer to cats than dogs, yes.
Oh that's so cool, thank you!
Nope, they are in a different group than felines or canines.
Hyena: better to have and not need Wolf: I have what I need
Hyenas are fucking terrifying
yet also kind of cute
At a distance with thick bars between me and them, maybe.
At night on the open savannah? Pure nightmare fuel
dont look up hyena births
one of the less cute animals i'd say, considering that all mammals just kinda default to being cute.
eh, Id say theres some pretty ugly mammals out there, at least in my opinion. most primates for instance, mole rats, some but certainly not all bats...
Mmm, yes, I can see that they both have pointy teeth
Hyena teeth look like something AI would generate .