Are hyenas good pets?
William Rodriguez
Updated on February 24, 2026
Hyenas are not a choice of pet because of their aggressive nature. Adult hyenas do not make good pets because they are aggressive and prone to attack animals – including humans – that attempt to dominate them. On the other hand, young hyenas are fun pets for experienced caregivers who understand hyena behavior.
Can a hyena be tamed?
The striped hyena is easily tamed and can be fully trained, particularly when they are young. Although the Ancient Egyptians did not consider striped hyenas sacred, they did supposedly tame them for use in hunting.Is it safe to have a hyena as a pet?
Perhaps not surprisingly, the answer is no, absolutely not. They're hyenas. They're not even friendly in “The Lion King”! That hasn't stopped some people from trying to domesticate them, though, with mixed results.Are hyenas easy to domesticate?
Hyenas take a great deal of patience to tame, as well as a firm hand to function as the leader of their pack. The striped hyena is the smallest of the hyenas, and it is also the easiest to tame. They can be fully trained and have been for thousands of years.Are hyenas affectionate?
Hyenas raised by humans are known to be extremely affectionate and cuddly to their caretakers : r/BeAmazed.My Hyena Attacks Everyone But Me | BEAST BUDDIES
Are hyenas loyal?
First, they are really loyal animals and develop long term friendships (which we all need). Second, much like vultures, another misunderstood animal, hyenas clean up the environment and prevent diseases by eating carcasses left behind by other animals.Do hyenas like humans?
In ordinary circumstances, striped hyenas are extremely timid around humans, though they may show bold behaviors towards people at night. On rare occasions, striped hyenas have preyed on humans. Among hyenas, only the spotted and striped hyenas have been known to become man-eaters.Can a hyena breed with a dog?
Nott (1856, p. 495) states that the dog produces hybrids with the hyena, “but to what extent has not yet been determined.” However, he provides no citation, and this cross does not appear to be substantiated by any reliable report, although it is mentioned by various early writers (e.g., Julius Caesar Scaliger 1612, p.Are hyenas closer to dogs or cats?
Spotted hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs, despite their dog-like appearance. Their closest relatives are actually mongooses and civets. Unlike all other carnivores, spotted hyenas have a complex social system where animals live in female-dominated clans of up to 90 individuals.Why do hyenas laugh?
The “laughter” vocalization for which they are known is a high-pitched series of short gigglelike sounds. These sounds, rather than being associated with hyenas having a good time, are generally made when they are threatened or under attack. A hyena may also produce a laughterlike sound when it is frustrated.Are hyenas aggressive towards humans?
Like most predators, hyena attacks tend to target women, children, and infirm men, though both species can and do attack healthy adult males on occasion. The spotted hyena is the more dangerous of the two species, being larger, more predatory, and more aggressive than the striped hyena.Do hyenas eat lions?
Hyenas prey on lion cubs and are known to eat dead lions. Hyenas are the most common large carnivores in Africa. They come in spotted and non-spotted shades and are often scavengers.Are hyenas smart?
Hyenas are proving to be very smart—in some ways, as smart as primates, according to Holekamp's research. They live in societies as complex as those of some primates and seem to show as much social intelligence.Do hyenas stink?
Myth: Hyenas stink.In reality, hyenas actually don't have much of a smell, say Dheer and Wiesel. “You want to talk about a stinky animal,” Dheer says with a laugh, “the African wild dog rolls in its own poop.” (See more amazing photos of African wildlife.)
Are hyenas mean?
Habits. Hyenas are very social and live in groups called clans. Clans can have up to 80 members, according to the National Wildlife Foundation. Not only are spotted hyena females larger, they are also more aggressive and are dominate in their clans.Why is hyena poop white?
In modern environments, hyena poop is bright white from all the calcium in ingested bones.Can hyenas learn your name?
Hyenas and humansTheir haunting, laughter-like calls inspired the idea in local cultures that they could imitate human voices and call their victims by name. Hyenas are also associated with divination and sometimes thought of as tools of demons and witches.