# What Animals Have No Natural Enemies **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 1999, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231 "1999-09-11T20:47:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/61 "2017-04-07T20:29:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Saltwater crocodiles and [goliath tigerfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigerfish) appear to have no nonhuman predators. > > Orcas will attack [even mature blue whales](https://sites.google.com/a/pvlearners.net/the-blue-whale/defenses-and-predators). I don’t think a successful attack has been documented, but presumably they wouldn’t be trying if they couldn’t pull it off once in a while. > > ETA: Orcas will attack and kill sperm whales on occasion, too. Orcas hunt in large packs, and they tend to go for baleen whales, not toothed whales. Their target is… the tongue. If a pack of orcas keeps at a humpback whale or any other baleen whales, they may eventually be able to get its mouth open and rip out its big, tasty tongue. If they get that, they may then swim off and leave the mortally wounded whale to die slowly. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/62 "2017-04-07T20:49:19Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > I’m glad to find out that crows have some predators. Unfortunately, suburban Southern California is low on owls and minks. > > I guess a really ornery cat could go after a crow, but I think it would be a tough battle. > > Who preys on the pigeon? A barn owl near where we used to live would take a pigeon every couple of weeks or so. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/63 "2017-04-07T21:08:02Z")
> [@BobT](#): > > e. > > Who preys on the pigeon? Cats. Hawks. Coyotes. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/64 "2017-04-07T21:09:21Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > A barn owl near where we used to live would take a pigeon every couple of weeks or so. Other natural enemies of the pigeon include the [pelican](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b4TU_R7J3c) and the [catfish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwlJO789k-A). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/65 "2017-04-07T21:14:21Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Orcas hunt in large packs, and they tend to go for baleen whales, not toothed whales. Sure, but the OP didn’t exclude pack hunters. Orcas do also go for toothed whales. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/66 "2017-04-07T21:44:50Z")
Great white sharks - preyed upon by killer whales Most birds of prey - preyed upon by other birds of prey Killer whales - I’ll accept that one Crocodiles (technically different from gators) - anacondas and crocs fight it out for dinner rights Anacondas - crocs (and in Florida, gators) Wolverines - maybe Wolves - maybe Blue whales - packs of orca Whale sharks - I suspect orca > [@BobT](#): > > Crows and ravens Birds of prey. Many birds will attack smaller birds. Crows go after blue jays. Hawks go after crows. I suspect eagles take hawks if they can. Also, cats will go after crows. > [@BobT](#): > > I guess a really ornery cat could go after a crow, but I think it would be a tough battle. Naw, cats are pretty vicious predators. A house can might have a challenge with a raven, but a bobcat/lynx probably wouldn’t. > [@Omniscient](#): > > Cattle and Buffalo probably didn’t, but what things were like before domestication is beyond me. North America had several large predators that would take Bison. Cattle were imported, and they are still preyed upon by wolves and pumas. > [@](#): > > Horses Horses were imports to North America, and even then they are susceptible to pumas and wolves. There were numerous predators in the Middle East and Europe where they originated. > [@Poto](#): > > Deer in North America. Only controlled by the CAR. Hunters are less useful in population control. Other than wiping out each other. Wolves and pumas hunt deer, we just keep their populations low, too. > [@Omniscient](#): > > Same goes for dolphins and sharks (from what I understand dolphins swim circles around a shark and will humble it quite easily), Solitary dolphins are at risk from sharks, but they tend to group up, and a pod of dolphins will chase/kill a shark. Not necessarily to eat, just for protection. > [@Lovetheoutdoors](#): > > \*\*Predators= True carnivores, Prey= Herbivores, Omnivorous animals \*\* Your definition is faulty. Carnivores eat meat. Omnivores eat meat and plants. Many omnivores hunt prey. Predator just means they hunt for food. Predator =/= carnivore. > [@](#): > > Actually, cats don’t have natural predators. There are no animals that seek out or prey on cats. Cats are strict carnivores, coyotes are not obligate carnivores. If their paths cross, they will probably fight and kill eachother. Just because coyotes can eat plants doesn’t mean they don’t prey on cats. Also, big birds of prey will kill a cat if they can. I personally met a golden eagle that was in lockup because it habitually preyed on small pets. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/67 "2017-04-07T22:05:08Z")
An animal that is not preyed on as a healthy adult in the wild is known as an apex predator. Wikipedia has [a list of them](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apex_predators). ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/68 "2017-04-08T00:03:57Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > An animal that is not preyed on as a healthy adult in the wild is known as an apex predator. Wikipedia has [a list of them](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apex_predators). This list has many animals listed that are routinely preyed upon by larger predators as a food source. I counted at least 10 just at a glance. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/69 "2017-04-08T00:16:21Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Do 18-year-old zombies have any natural predators? > > 😃 Not as long as you buy brains for it. The Dodo bird had no natural predators on its island it was confined to, which is how it ended up not being very bright about them, and easy pickings for humans when discovered. And soon made extinct. If not for humans, the Dodo would likely still be there, on its island. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/70 "2017-04-08T00:26:34Z")
[Orca tearing apart a great white shark](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9I_DcSbZjI) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/71 "2017-04-08T00:35:08Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > This list has many animals listed that are routinely preyed upon by larger predators as a food source. I counted at least 10 just at a glance. Yeah, that is actually a very bad list relative to the OP. All kinds of critters prey on rattlesnakes for instance. Great Horned Owls alone rule out quite a few predators. They’re the king of generalists in North America, with over 500 identified prey species. They’ll hunt and eat anything that flies, walks, runs, crawls, hops, glides or swims in the right size range, which is very wide. Including most raptors, ravens, and many small to mid-sized mammalian predators like virtually all the mustelids - i.e. that list mentions the Striped Skunk as an apex predator, the remains of 57 of which were found in one owl’s nest ;). ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/72 "2017-04-08T04:05:35Z")
I have seen mention of Cows with guns, anybody for the Chickens in Choppers?? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FQMbXvn2RNI/hqdefault.jpg "Cows With Guns - The Original Animation") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQMbXvn2RNI) ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/73 "2017-04-08T04:47:25Z")
Most predators are opportunists, and hardly any will rule out attacking all members of any species. Even if (random example), say, a cheetah is highly unlikely to attack a baboon, well, you never say never. If a cheetah is REALLY hungry, is much bigger than the baboon, and thinks it has surprise on its side… MAYBE it will take a shot. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/74 "2017-04-08T06:07:13Z")
Komodo Dragons. They’re the biggest thing in their eco system. Nothing preys on them. In Australia Quoll and Tasmanian Devil’s used to have nothing that preyed on them, now introduced feral cats and foxes will sometimes attack them. Edit: Scratch that, Wedge Tail Eagles have been known to attack Quoll and Tassie devils, they are really the Apex Predator in Australia so I guess I’d add Wedge Tail Eagles to the list. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/75 "2017-04-08T06:49:42Z")
> [@Silver\_lining](#): > > Some Whales. Killer Whale or Sperm are examples. > > The Alligator has natural enemies, such as large snakes, and hippos. Nitpick: Alligators don’t share a habitat with hippos. They only live in the USA and in China. In fact, once an alligator reaches four feet in length, it is relatively safe from being preyed on by other species, although it may be eaten by a larger alligator. And the only large snake an alligator might encounter in the wild would be a Burmese python, an invasive species in the Everglades. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/76 "2017-04-08T11:49:13Z")
Ironically enough, sloths have very few predators despite having precious few natural defenses and no inclination to use them (nevermind the energy to). They don’t move and fade into the background, so they rarely get noticed. They’re covered in moss and garbage and their meat tastes awful, so predators who _do_ notice learn to stop real quick. The only time they really get attacked with any frequency is when they try and get off their lazy arse and forage around on the ground, at which time leopards and humans take notice. Which just goes to show : don’t make the effort. It’s bad for you. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/77 "2017-04-08T12:47:05Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [Orca tearing apart a great white shark](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9I_DcSbZjI) But I’m guessing that some times the fight goes the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/78 "2017-04-08T12:54:52Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Ironically enough, sloths have very few predators despite having precious few natural defenses and no inclination to use them {Schwarzenegger voice]It’s not a puma!{/Schwarzenegger voice] Oh, wait, [it _is_ a puma](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90M7kH5wCtA). ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/79 "2017-04-08T13:52:48Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Most predators are opportunists, and hardly any will rule out attacking all members of any species. > > Even if (random example), say, a cheetah is highly unlikely to attack a baboon, well, you never say never. If a cheetah is REALLY hungry, is much bigger than the baboon, and thinks it has surprise on its side… MAYBE it will take a shot. A leopard will kill a baboon but I doubt a cheetah would take on anything but a baby. Baboons have bigger teeth than cheetah and can fight. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231/80 "2017-04-08T14:12:08Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > A leopard will kill a baboon but I doubt a cheetah would take on anything but a baby. Baboons have bigger teeth than cheetah and can fight. You’re absolutely right- 999 times out of 1000, a cheetah isn’t going to mess with a baboon. Certainly not if there are easier pickings (a nice Thomson’s gazelle maybe) around. Baboons are tough and they travel in big groups, which means Most predators (even lions or hyenas) generally steer clear of them- rightly! I’m just saying we should hardly ever state categorically “Animal X is safe from all predators.” It really depends- how hungry is the predator? How desperate? How close in size are predator and prey? Even if a predator would prefer easier pickings, might he try to eat me if he was famished and I happened to stumble into him? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-have-no-natural-enemies/3231.md?page=5)