Badger and coyote become buddies — and team up to hunt in Colorado, trail photos show

A surprising friendship has formed between a coyote and badger in the Colorado wilderness, trail cameras have revealed.

The National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center began posting trail camera photos of the pair this week, calling it an “incredible partnership.”

“This is a relationship that is not often seen,” the center wrote. “We are fortunate to be able to share ... these photos.”

Cameras photographed the pair Feb. 4 and again on Feb. 7, suggesting theirs was not a chance encounter.

The two predators appear to be foraging together for the winter, a season when meals can be scarce.

It’s not the first time the two vastly different species have been seen pairing up in the wild, wildlife experts say.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported in 2016 a coyote and badger were seen partnering “on the prairie surrounding the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center.”

“Coyotes and badgers are known to hunt together and can even be more successful hunting prairie dogs and ground-squirrels when they work in tandem,” wildlife service officials wrote.

“Studies have shown that this unusual relationship is beneficial for both species. The coyote can chase down prey if it runs and the badger can dig after prey if it heads underground into its burrow systems.”

The two species tend to have “open relationships,” experts say, meaning they may decide to go their separate ways at any time.

American badgers are known to be “fierce and built for defense,” with a tendency to hiss, growl and give off a musky odor when approached, National Geographic reports.

Coyotes, on the other hand, have a tendency to be “elusive, adaptive, intelligent animals that manage to hold their own when living in close contact with humans,” according to New Hampshire Fish and Game.

The photos shared this week by the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center have fascinated commenters on social media, including some who are referring to the pair as a “Dynamic Duo.”

“That’s an odd couple,” Brian Way posted on Facebook.

“Cooperative hunting? Nature never ceases to amaze me!” Rich Wood posted.

“Surprised the badger isn’t attacking the (co)yote,” Norm Muttscheler wrote.

This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 7:37 AM with the headline "Badger and coyote become buddies — and team up to hunt in Colorado, trail photos show."