Tortoises move slowly, have protective shells, and can live for over 100 years. Yet these peaceful plant eaters still have their fair share of enemies. If you’ve ever wondered ‘what eats tortoises?’, you’ll find a comprehensive answer here.

In short, the main predators of tortoises are coyotes, foxes, wild dogs, birds of prey, and even insects. Keep reading to learn all about the hunting techniques these animals use and how tortoises try to defend themselves.

Mammals That Prey on Tortoises

Coyotes and Foxes Crack Open Tortoise Shells

Coyotes and foxes are clever predators that have learned how to prey on tortoises by flipping them over and cracking open their shells. They use their teeth and claws to pry apart the plates on a tortoise’s underside, giving them access to the soft inner body.

Once the shell is breached, the coyote or fox can pull out and eat the nutrient-rich tortoise meat. This brutal technique allows them to take advantage of the tortoise’s main defense mechanism – its hardened shell.

Studies have shown that in areas where coyotes are prevalent, up to 80% of adult tortoises may have cracked and repaired shells as a result of failed coyote attacks. Young tortoises are especially vulnerable, as their small shells are easier to open.

Coyotes may also dig up hibernating tortoises in their burrows during winter. With their shell-cracking abilities, coyotes can exert tremendous predation pressure on local tortoise populations.

Wild Dogs and Badgers Dig up Burrowed Tortoises

Tortoises will often burrow into soil or leaf litter to sleep safely at night. However, their hiding strategy can backfire when wild dogs, badgers, and other predators catch their scent and start digging.

These muscular mammals use their strong front legs and long claws to excavate dirt and reach the sleeping tortoise. Some predators even return to old tortoise burrows, knowing that they reuse the same hiding spots night after night.

Once unearthed, a vulnerable tortoise has little defense against a persistent predator. Badgers have even been observed flipping tortoises on their backs and then chewing through the exposed plastron to extract the meat.

For tortoises, there is no true refuge when predators like wild dogs and badgers are hunting by scent. Staying completely still in a burrow may be the only way to avoid detection.

Research on Santa Cruz Island found that digging predators were able to locate over half of the juvenile tortoises in experimental burrow groups, indicating a high success rate. Constant threat from digging mammals is likely a key driver in the evolution of the tortoise’s protective shell.

Birds of Prey Snatch Up Small Tortoises

Hawks Use Their Talons to Flip Tortoises Over

Hawks and eagles are perhaps the most notorious birds of prey when it comes to snatching up small tortoises. With their keen eyesight, powerful talons, and razor-sharp beaks, birds of prey are highly effective hunters that can make quick work of an unsuspecting tortoise’s protective shell.

Here’s a closer look at how these aerial predators attack tortoises:

When a hawk spots a small tortoise lumbering along, it will go into a swift dive with its talons outstretched. The goal is to quickly flip the tortoise over onto its back, exposing its vulnerable belly.

Using their muscular legs and sharp talons, hawks can easily overpower a tiny tortoise in an instant. Larger tortoises are more of a challenge, but some massive eagles are strong enough to flip them over.

Once the tortoise is overturned, the bird will use its hooked beak to rip open the softer plastron (underside) and access the meat inside. Hawks and eagles are remarkably adept at finding the weak points in a tortoise’s shell and prying it open. They tend to prefer smaller desert tortoises under 10 inches long, as larger shells are more difficult to crack.

Interestingly, some hawks have developed specialized techniques for hunting tortoises. A study in the Journal of Raptor Research found that some Harris’s hawks in Arizona learned to drop tortoises onto rocks from great heights to break open their shells.

This behavior demonstrates these birds’ remarkable intelligence and adaptability when it comes to accessing a hearty meal inside a tortoise’s hard casing.

Crows Smash Shells Against Hard Objects

While not as physically powerful as hawks and eagles, crows and ravens are incredibly intelligent birds that have devised their own methods for breaking into tortoise shells. Their technique relies more on brains than brawn:

Upon spotting a small- to medium-sized tortoise, a group of crows will begin harassing it by pecking aggressively at its shell and limbs. They work to flip the tortoise over onto its back to expose the plastron.

With the tortoise disabled, the crows will then work together to fly the tortoise high into the air and drop it onto a hard surface such as rocks or pavement.

By dropping the tortoise from heights of 100 feet or more, the crows can use gravity to their advantage, generating enough force to crack the shell open when it hits the ground. Sometimes, they will also grab the tortoise and repeatedly smash it down onto hard objects to weaken the shell.

Once the shell is fractured, the crows use their beaks and claws to tear the plastron open and feast on the nutritious meat inside. Studies show that crow populations with more experience foraging on tortoises are more proficient at dropping and smashing techniques. So as clever as crows are, practice makes perfect when learning to defeat the tortoise’s formidable defenses!

Insects That Attack Tortoise Eggs And Hatchlings

Beetles Drill Into Eggs to Feed

Various species of beetles are notorious predators of tortoise eggs. These insects can detect the eggs buried underground or hidden in nests. Using their strong mandibles, beetles will drill into the tough shells of turtle and tortoise eggs to feed on the yolky contents inside.

Some of the most common egg predators include ground beetles, darkling beetles, and potato beetles. Studies show over 50% of some tortoise clutches can be destroyed by these vicious bugs before they even have a chance to hatch!

Some sneaky beetles like the Omophron species will actually wait near a female tortoise until she lays her eggs. Once the mother tortoise leaves, the beetle pounces at the chance for an easy protein-packed meal.

Other beetles like Cicindela tiger beetles use their speed and fast legs to chase down emerging baby tortoises. So from start to finish, beetles are a formidable foe of hatchling tortoises.

Ants Swarm and Sting Vulnerable Hatchlings

Ants are another insect hazard for newborn tortoises. Species like fire ants are fond of swarming and attacking vulnerable hatchlings as they emerge from underground nests. Unable to quickly escape, baby tortoises often fall victim to dozens of stinging ants.

Even if the hatchling survives, ants can do serious damage by stinging the tortoise’s sensitive eyes and soft flesh. Loss of vision and injury make it difficult for small tortoises to evade future attacks.

Studies estimate over 80% of hatchling gopher tortoises may be killed by voracious fire ants before they’re able to get to safety. In fact, some conservationists believe invasive ant species are more detrimental to tortoise populations than large predators!

Other aggressive ant species like army ants, jack jumper ants, and Siafu ants also pose a major threat to newly hatched tortoises.

Researchers are studying chemical deterrents and physical barriers to help prevent ants from accessing turtle nests. But until solutions are found, tiny newborn tortoises will continue facing an onslaught of ant attacks.

How Tortoises Try to Defend Themselves

Retreating Into Their Shells

The most obvious defense mechanism tortoises possess is their hard shell. When threatened, tortoises can quickly retract their head, legs, and tail into their shell for protection. The shell acts as a shield against attacks from predators.

It is made up of two sections – the lower plastron and the upper carapace, which are connected by a bridge. Many predators find it difficult to breach the strong, bony plates of a tortoise’s shell. Retreating fully into their shell allows tortoises to stay safe from danger.

Some aggressive predators like coyotes may repeatedly bite and paw at the shell trying to find a weak spot. But most predators will eventually give up and leave the tortoise alone once it has completely withdrawn into its rugged fortress.

Biting and Hissing

While hiding in their shell is their main line of defense, tortoises will also use biting, hissing, ramming, and other aggressive behaviors to fend off predators when out in the open. If a predator gets too close, tortoises will attempt to deliver a strong, painful bite with their sharp beaks.

They can inflict serious damage by chomping down forcefully on a predator’s face, tail, or limb. Along with biting, tortoises may emit loud hissing sounds as a warning. The aggressive hissing, together with lunging bites, is often enough to startle predators and make them reconsider their attack.

Tortoises may also ram into predators with the front of their shell if they approach from the side or rear. By aggressively biting, hissing, and ramming, tortoises hope to prove they are not defenseless prey.

Camouflage and Burrowing

Tortoises rely on camouflage and burrowing behaviors to avoid detection from predators altogether. Their shells are usually dull brown or black in color which allows them to blend in with their surroundings. Their slow, steady movements also make them less conspicuous.

If given time, tortoises will dig burrows or hide in naturally forming tunnels and crevices. They use their sturdy front legs and claws to carve out shelters under rocks, vegetation, and soil. Burrowing offers protection and lets tortoises conceal themselves underground when predators are active.

Some species like gopher tortoises spend up to 90% of their time in burrows. Remaining hidden and still in secure burrows and nests helps minimize the chances of being found by hungry predators.

Conclusion

As you can see, a surprising number of predators consider slow-moving tortoises to be easy meals. Clever mammals, birds of prey, and even tiny insects all have tactics to get past the tortoise’s hard shell defenses.

Understandably, being constantly under threat has led to tortoises evolving various ways to avoid or discourage these predators. Of course, many still fall prey each year, especially the more vulnerable young and eggs.

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