# North American Wolverine vs African Spotted Hyena: who wins?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091>\
**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:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**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, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/21 "2003-04-25T22:20:03Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Cisco \*  
> 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.

From [here:](http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/hww-fap/hww-fap.cfm?ID_species=78&lang=e)

> [@](#):
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> Some individual wolverines can become good hunters and can kill young and adult ungulates, such as caribou and even moose, if the prey is in poor physical condition or if the wolverine has maneuvered it into a disadvantaged position, such as in heavy snow.

Still bloody impressive - a solitary animal, the size of a small dog, can kill a moose. Wolves tend to go for prey in a poor physical condition, and it normally takes a few of them to do the same job.

Regarding it being hunted by cougars, I’d still say it boils down to which animal has the element of suprise. I just can’t imagine a cougar (or any other animal) risking going against one without using an ambush.

> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by dorkusmalorkusmafia \*  
> I still can’t fathom them taking down a moose of any age or health condition.

Wolverines are not quite as psychotic as is often portrayed, but are bloody strong. It’s regarded as the strongest mammal in relation to it’s size - A quick Google for “stongest mammal wolverine” will give some good cites for that.

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**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, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/22 "2003-04-25T22:32:19Z")

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> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by Cisco \*  
> \*\*
> 
> “A [pack of] wolverine[s] has been known to kill a [newborn sickly] moose [that was sleeping.]”
> 
> \*\*

Ha Ha! Fun with brackets/parentheses.

“A [(huge)pack of(gentically enhanced)] wolverine[s] (with guns) has been known to kill (or irritate) a [newborn sickly (legless)] moose [that was sleeping (and in a coma).]”  
I still stand by my boys Wolverine, girls Hyena theory. The Wolverine has specifically evolved to attack/fend off larger animals **solo** , I think that will be the difference in the closer sized males. For the females, the Hyena will be **so** much bigger that it would just crush the little girl Wolverine.

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**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, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-wolverine-vs-african-spotted-hyena-who-wins/171091/23 "2003-04-25T22:34:12Z")

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[anecdote]

Just remembered and thought I’d mention it because they’re related to wolverines: Couple of weeks ago, I saw a documentary about honey badgers in Africa. A big cat (I think it was a leopard) attacked an elderly female badger. Took the cat an hour to kill it - that old thing put up one hell of a fight.

[/anecdote]

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