# North American Wolverine vs African Spotted Hyena: who wins? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091 "2003-04-25T12:18:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/1 "2003-04-25T12:18:54Z")
Spurred by the thread on Pit Bulls and Wolves, I thought I’d take this idea a little further and make the fight strictly _ **WILD** _. Even though it is highly unlikely a Hyena and a Wolverine would ever come in contact, suppose they did, and decided to fight to the death, who would win? My money is on the Wolverine. Mainly because wolverines are known for being highly tenacious, strong, overtly aggressive, and extremely vicious. Hyenas, from what I know, are not as tenacious, and not a vicious, lending them only the strength and crunching power… So what say you? Would the wily wolverine, get laughed at by the hyena, or eaten for dinner? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/2 "2003-04-25T12:21:26Z")
Are you kidding? This is just a WAG but I would imagine a Hyena outweighs a Wolverine by something like 4 to 1. Howabout a Wolverine Vs. a Tazmanian Devil. That seems like a more interesting fight. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/3 "2003-04-25T12:29:10Z")
Female Wolverine: 17-22lbs Female Hyena: 147-165lbs Average weight ratio of Hyena:Wolverine = 8:1 Cites [here](http://www.wolverinefoundation.org/faq.htm) and [here](http://sailfish.exis.net/~spook/hyenatxt.html). ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/4 "2003-04-25T12:34:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*Howabout a Wolverine Vs. a Tazmanian Devil. That seems like a more interesting fight. \*\* That is exactly what I was thinking. Both lots of dynamite in small packages. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/5 "2003-04-25T12:43:10Z")
One word: _snikt_. What? Not _that_ kind of North American Wolverine? Oh, right … Spotted hyaena cubs fight each other before they’ve even opened their eyes; that species gives virtually nothing away to the wolverine in terms of sheer aggression. And, as **Cisco** points out, the hyaena is eight times the size. Perhaps the smaller hyaena species (brown or striped, if memory serves) might be a slightly more even match - even so, my money would be on the hyaena. Or there’s the aardwolf, though I understand opinions differ as to whether it is a member of the hyaena family or not. If it counts … the aardwolf (_Proteles cristatus_) is a miserable-looking beast that eats termites, a wolverine would probably chew it up in short order. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/6 "2003-04-25T12:46:25Z")
Hyena wins- much too large for wolverine to handle Some wolverine info [sub] > [@](#): > > Q: What is the taxonomic classification of the wolverine? > A: The most widely accepted classification of the wolverine is: > > Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Subphylum: Vertebrata > Class: Mammalia > Subclass: Theria > Infraclass: Eutheria > Order: Carnivora > Suborder: Fissipedia > Family: Mustelidae > Subfamily: Mustelinae > Genus: Gulo > Species: gulo > Subspecies: gulo (Old World), luscus (New World) - possibly, vancouverensis and other isolated subspecies not yet identified. > > Q: Does the wolverine have a natural enemy? > A: The mountain lion, wolf and bear are predators of the wolverine. However, the human is recognized as the primary predator of the wolverine. > > Q: Do wolverines hibernate? > A: No. The wolverine is not a hibernating mammal. > > Q: Is the wolverine a relative of the weasel? > A: Yes. The wolverine is the largest land dwelling member of the weasel family. > > Q: When is the breeding season of the wolverine? > A: Breeding season occurs from June through August. The species exhibits delayed implantation and the young, known as “kits”, are typically born during February and March. > > Q: Can the wolverine climb trees? > A: Yes. Although not considered to display arboreal behavior, the wolverine can adequately climb trees. > > Q: Is the Tasmanian devil a relative of the wolverine? > A: No. The Tasmanian devil is a marsupial in the family Dasyuridae. The wolverine is a carnivore in the family Mustelidae (weasel family). They may resemble each other physically, however they are distinctly different. > > Q: Is the wolverine nocturnal? > A: No. The wolverine is active day and night, all year long. > > Q: How much does a wolverine weigh? > A: There is sexual dimorphism in the wolverine, with a typical adult female weighing 8-10 kg (17.6-22 lbs.) and adult male 12-14 kg (26.4-30.8 lbs.). We are not aware of a documented weight of a wild adult in excess of 20.5 kg (45 lbs.). The largest individual (male) that we are aware of weighed 25 kg (55 lbs.) and was born and raised in captivity [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/7 "2003-04-25T12:56:19Z")
The size and weight difference doesn’t really matter, a wolverine can kill caribou and moose. [Cite](http://www.nps.gov/bela/html/wolver.htm) I’d say it would depend on which animal had the element of suprise. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/8 "2003-04-25T13:01:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Although they are small, no animal will fight with a wolverine. They will chase wolves away from their kills, and even huge grizzly bears will get out of their way This is why I thought this would be a good match. On a recent Discovery channel documentary on the NA Wolverine, it was said they can bring down animals out weighing them more than 10 times, and have a coat thick enough to withstand quite a beating. Frontierman often avoided them due to their overly aggressive nature. I’ll concede a hyena may win, but I bet it would be a very good fight. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/9 "2003-04-25T13:11:01Z")
How pissed off the wolverine was would also be a major factor. I saw a documentary, years ago, about wolves and caribou. In one sequence, the wolf pack had killed a caribou and were settling down for a meal, when a wolverine came charging at them. No fight, but the one wolverine drove about twelve wolves away from dinner. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/10 "2003-04-25T14:15:15Z")
I’ve seen a large wolverine trying to kill a moose calf while it’s mother defended it. Also saw a wounded caribou run by me with a wolverine hot on it’s trail. He peeled off and came over to check me out, necessitating I fire a round close over his head. They’re awesome looking beasts, low to the ground so you can’t flip them, lots of muscle and loose skin, and they just don’t appear to be scared of damn near anything. One on one, I’ll take the wolverine. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/11 "2003-04-25T15:13:26Z")
/Red Dawn/ WOOOOLVEEERIIIIINES!! /Red Dawn/ I’ll put $100.00 on the wolverine please, thanks Chummp ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/12 "2003-04-25T16:18:18Z")
I’ve seen a lot of footage of wolverines taking on bears and wolf packs. They’re extremely strong, tenacious and utterly ferocious. My Canuck buck is on the “Mountain Devil”. Hyenas are tough, but their real advantage lies in their clan. Alone, I don’t think it would have a chance against an animal that’s used to taking on foes alone. > [@](#): > > \*“Picture a weasel – and most of us can do that, for we have met that little demon of destruction, that small atom of insensate courage, that symbol of slaughter, sleeplessness, and tireless, incredible activity – picture that scrap of demoniac fury, multiply that mite some fifty times, and you have the likeness of a Wolverine.” \* > > Ernest Thompson Seton, 1953 ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/13 "2003-04-25T16:24:05Z")
I hope it’s the hyena. I hate wolverines. ---
**Author:** ![SteveSteve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SteveSteve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveSteve)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/14 "2003-04-25T16:59:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*Female Wolverine: 17-22lbs > > Female Hyena: 147-165lbs > > Average weight ratio of Hyena:Wolverine = 8:1 > Cites [here](http://www.wolverinefoundation.org/faq.htm) and [here](http://sailfish.exis.net/~spook/hyenatxt.html). \*\* Not to nitpick, but that is not really a fair comparison, Wolverines are male shifted sexually dimorphic and Hyenas are female shifted sexually dimorphic, so you are comparing the smallest to the biggest. If males went toe to toe it would be more like 5 or 4:1 [Wolverine - “adult male 12-14 kg (26.4-30.8 lbs.)” Hyena - “Male wt 123-138 lb (56-63 kg)”] and wolverines take on bigger animals than that regularly. Like they say, it isn’t the size of the boat, it is the motion in the ocean, or in this case the size of the oversized crazy fighting weasel. PS: Interesting note, Hyena females have very large (3-4 inches long) clitorises (clitori? clitorum?) and will mount male Hyenas in dominance displays. PSS: So, that being the case I would say mano a mano, Wolverine, womano a womano, Hyena…how you gonna mess with a chick with a 4 inch clitoris? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/15 "2003-04-25T18:36:25Z")
Interesting, I read that cite too **Steve** , whilst writing the Op. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/16 "2003-04-25T20:24:45Z")
Don’t hyenas have the strongest jaws in the animal kingdom? I thought I saw that on the Discovery Channel when I still watched TV regularly. I would think if the hyena was able to clamp down on li’l wolvie then wolvie would be a goner. ---
**Author:** ![Rockford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@Rockford](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rockford)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/17 "2003-04-25T20:34:18Z")
I think that even if it was two males, the size difference would be too much for the wolverine to win. Granted wolverines can take on other animals much larger than them, but moose and caribou don’t have sharp teeth and claws. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/18 "2003-04-25T21:09:27Z")
Ahh! **Rockford** read a little more into it. Moose and Caribou do not have sharpe teeth, but grizzly bears and wolves do. And they routinely run away from an angry wolverine. I stand by my assertion that the wolverine would win. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/19 "2003-04-25T21:24:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kal \* > \*\*The size and weight difference doesn’t really matter, a wolverine can kill caribou and moose. > > [Cite](http://www.nps.gov/bela/html/wolver.htm) > > \*\* I cannot even begin to imagine what implements of destruction a wolverine has that could bring down a moose. That is indeed a credible cite but I suspect them of leaving out crucial details. “A [pack of] wolverine[s] has been known to kill a [newborn sickly] moose [that was sleeping.]” Anyway, I remember reading somewhere that a natural predator of the wolverine is the mountain lion. I’d say a hyena is at least equal to a mountain lion in terms of wolverine ownage. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/20 "2003-04-25T21:38:10Z")
Wolverine’s are solitary, if I recall correctly. I still can’t fathom them taking down a moose of any age or health condition. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091.md?page=2)