What is a predator?
Predators are wild animals that hunt, or prey on, other animals. All animals need food to live.These animals need the flesh of the animals that they kill to survive. Weasels, hawks, wolves, mountain lions, and grizzly bears are all predators. Predators are carnivores, which means their diet consists of meat. Some predators, such as coyotes and bears are also scavengers, meaning they will eat the carcasses of animals that they didn't hunt themselves.

Opposite of predator, you have prey. Prey animals can be anything from the smallest insect to a 1400 pound bull moose.Some prey animals are herbivores, meaning they eat plants.Other prey species are omnivores, which means they will eat plants or animals.

    Most times, the word predator brings to mind an image of snarling teeth and slashing claws. While many predators fit this image, many others do not. Predators come in many sizes and shapes. They can be as tiny as a bug or as large as a polar bear. What does a ladybug eat? You're right, other animals! What about that beautiful robin that we welcome spring with? American robin Yes, another predator! Are you getting the idea? Predators are animals that eat other animals. They're not bad guys. They're just guys trying to "make a living" like you and me. "Making a living" to them is finding enough food to eat. Are they always successful? No way, life can be tough for predators.

Can prey also be predators?
Yes, in many cases. Food webs will show this.

The Role of Predators
Predators are part of a food chain, the process of passing energy from one organism to the next.
1. Plants are the first link in the food chain, they use the sun's energy to make food.
2. Plant eaters, also called herbivores, enter the picture next.
3. Predators, such as birds and foxes, join the food chain by eating the plant eaters. These predators may become food for the next guy up.
4. Finally you have your apex predator. This is the predator at the top of the food chain.

Most natural communities have several food chains that interconnect. This is called a food web. The relationship between predators and prey is often described as the "balance of nature."

Invertebrate Predators. Animals who do not have a back bone are called invertebrates. Invertebrates are cold-blooded; their body temperature depends on the temperature of their environment. Some major groups of invertebrates include amoebas,sponges, jellyfish, corals, tapeworms, flukes, insects, arachnids, crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms. There are more species of invertebrates than any other group on the earth. Are you curious about insects? Go to Insect Gallery from Iowa State University.