In 2020, researchers caught something strange — and stunningly cute — on camera. In the dead of night in the southern Santa Cruz Mountains, a coyote and a badger sauntered out of a wildlife tunnel. The two ambled around then turned around, bumbling back toward the tunnel, but not before showing off the strength of their bond. As the coyote waited for the badger, it bowed its body and wagged its tail, almost as if it was inviting the badger to play.
Seeing a coyote and a badger together in the wild isn't wholly surprising. The species travel together all the time, researchers say, with the combination of the coyote's chasing power and the badger's digging prowess making it much simpler for the two to make meals of squirrels and other burrowing critters. But the video is still something special, showing off the strength of these creatures as a team. Of course, the coyote and the badger are not alone.
What Is a Symbiotic Relationship?
In the world of nature, many species are bonded together. Also known as symbiosis, these bonds are arranged in a variety of ways and are integral to the survival of one or both of the species involved.
