Bearded dragons make great pets, but in the wild they occupy an important place in the food chain. As a prey species, bearded dragons serve as a food source for a variety of predators. If you’re a bearded dragon owner, understanding what animals prey on them is important for keeping them safe.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: the main predators of bearded dragons include birds of prey, wild dogs and cats, large lizards like monitors, and snakes.
Birds of Prey
Hawks
Hawks are common predators of bearded dragons in the wild. Their excellent vision and swift flying abilities make them adept hunters. Some hawk species like the red-tailed hawk or Cooper’s hawk may target younger, smaller dragons as prey.
Larger dragons are generally safe from hawks due to their size, but they can still be seen as a threat. Keeping dragons in outdoor enclosures where hawks are prevalent requires vigilance to prevent predation.
Eagles
The powerful talons and sharp beaks of eagles enable them to prey on reptiles, including bearded dragons. In Australia, the wedge-tailed eagle is known to hunt dragons. An interesting fact is that fossil records show ancestors of modern bearded dragons were prey for giant eagle species that existed thousands of years ago but are now extinct.
Today, any eagle species large enough to carry a dragon could potentially make it a meal. Proper enclosure security is important if eagles frequent the area.
Owls
As nocturnal hunters, owls like the barn owl or great horned owl pose a threat to bearded dragons if they are left outside at night. Their silent flight and outstanding hearing give them an advantage when hunting in darkness. Smaller dragons are more vulnerable to owl predation.
Larger adult dragons are less likely to be seen as prey, but owls have been known to attack even sizable reptiles. Bringing pet dragons inside at night is an effective way to protect them from owls.
Crows and Ravens
Intelligent, opportunistic birds like crows and ravens will eat almost anything they can get their beaks on, including small reptiles. In the wild, they may mob or harass a bearded dragon sunning itself until it is stressed into fleeing or freezing in place, allowing the birds to strike.
Crows have been documented working in teams to distract and attack lizards. For pet dragons, keeping their outdoor enclosures covered with wire mesh tops prevents these aerial burglars from harming them.
Mammals
Wild Cats
Felines like bobcats, lynxes, mountain lions, and feral domestic cats can all prey on bearded dragons if given the chance. These quick and nimble hunters tend to go after small rodents, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
A 2016 study found that feral cats kill between 6.3 and 22.3 billion mammals annually in just the contiguous United States. With excellent eyesight allowing cats to spot camouflaged prey, along with lightning reflexes and sharp teeth and claws, bearded dragons face considerable risk if wild cats infiltrate their habitats.
Dingos and Wild Dogs
As opportunistic hunters and scavengers, wild canines including dingos, coyotes, foxes, and feral dogs eat almost anything they can capture or find already dead. Lizards comprise part of wild dogs’ varied diets whenever the chance arises.
Dingos in particular pose a threat to bearded dragons in Australia, as they roam the dragons’ arid natural habitats. Studies show that small mammals make up 80% of dingos’ diets, but reptiles have been found in over 50% of examined dingo stomach contents and scat.
Foxes
Foxes sometimes hunt lizards including bearded dragons. A 2021 research paper reviewed culled red fox stomach contents in South Australia over 30 years. Reptiles appeared in 14.5% of specimens, though specific species were rarely identified.
As opportunistic generalist predators on small vertebrates much like coyotes, foxes eat whatever animal prey they can capture. Bearded dragon defenses like inflating their throat, hissing, or whipping predators with their tails offer little protection from the strikes of experienced fox hunters.
Mammalian carnivores from feral cats to wild dogs rely on speed, stealth, sharp teeth, and cunning hunting instincts to catch lizard meals. Any bearded dragon exposed in the open around these clever, agile predators runs the risk of being captured and consumed. Proper habitat boundaries and barriers serve as a vital defense against the mammals which eat bearded dragons whenever possible.
Reptiles
Goannas/Monitor Lizards
Goannas, also known as monitor lizards, are the apex predators in many Australian ecosystems and can pose a serious threat to bearded dragons. These large lizards have sharp claws, muscular bodies, and strong jaws filled with pointed teeth.
Goannas are agile climbers and can swiftly scale trees, fences, and rocky outcrops in pursuit of prey. Their acute sense of smell helps them track down bearded dragons basking or sheltering in the brush.
Once caught, a goanna will use its vice-like jaws to deliver a series of damaging bites. Unlucky bearded dragons are sometimes shaken violently and bashed against rocks or trees to inflict fatal trauma.
Studies show that up to 12% of monitored bearded dragon populations can fall victim to goanna predation in areas where the two species overlap.
Large Snakes
Several species of large snakes common in Australia will readily eat bearded dragons if given the chance. These include carpet pythons, olive pythons, and scrub pythons. Their slender bodies allow access through small gaps and holes where bearded dragons like to hide.
Pythons are ambush predators that will patiently wait motionless for hours until prey wanders close enough to strike.
With their strong muscles, snakes can swiftly constrict and suffocate a bearded dragon within minutes. Their backward facing teeth also make it nearly impossible for prey to escape once grasped. Studies have shown predation rates by large snakes to be between 5-8% in areas populated by both bearded dragons and pythons.
Other snakes like king browns, mulga snakes, and eastern brown snakes are also efficient predators of bearded dragons despite lacking the size to actually consume them. Their highly potent venom can rapidly immobilize and kill a bearded dragon within minutes of being bitten.
Conclusion
In summary, bearded dragons occupy an important ecological niche as prey for a variety of predators. Understanding what animals prey on bearded dragons can help owners keep their pets safe. Providing proper enclosures, avoiding releasing pet dragons into the wild, and supervising outdoor time are key to protecting bearded dragons from predators.
