OUTDOOR KIDS: What Is A Predator?

By Kelton Hatch, Idaho Department of Fish and Game When people think of predators in Idaho, bears, lions and wolves come to mind, but predators come in all shapes and sizes, from mountain lions to tiny shrews. Would you think of a bluebird or great blue heron as a predator? Both are birds that eat other animals to survive. The heron eats fish, and the bluebird eats insects. They are predators even though some people may not see them this way. The number of predators depends upon the number of animals they have to eat. The more rabbits there are, the more bobcats and coyotes you may see. As soon as rabbit numbers drop, so will bobcat and coyotes numbers. Many predators hunt by themselves, but others hunt in groups. Wolves hunt in groups called packs because they can catch much larger animals by cooperating with each other. One wolf would have a hard time bringing down an elk or a moose. But three or more wolves working together have a much better chance of bringing down a large elk. Predators are important parts of the ecosystem. They help maintain the balance of nature. We might be overrun with mice if it were not for predators, such as hawks and snakes. Predators may sometimes be seen as vicious or bloodthirsty, but they really aren't. Predators kill for one reason: to survive. Wildlife acts instinctively or naturally. They have no choice. Predators have a job to do in nature, and they do it well. Kelton Hatch is the regional conservation educator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.