They are both active apex predators who compete for almost everything.
Neither species is willing to share and there are only so many resources. This inevitably leads to violence and attacks.
Both species are social and, therefore potent. Hyenas are the smaller of the two mammals, weighing around 140lbs; lions can range from 250–500.
When one species makes a kill…typically a hyena, the lion is fast to run in and make the most of it. Depending on how many hyenas were there in the first place, they will start calling in for reinforcements. When they arrive, all hell can break loose.
This is when violence escalates. The balance of power is 4 hyenas to 1 lioness, or 5–8 for a male (some experts keep it at 4 for either sex) Depending on the lion #s and how much they’ve already scavenged, or if cubs are present….they usually just leave and consider hunting their own meal. Note: most scavenged kills are by lions, not hyenas.
Violence between the two species is almost ALWAYS due to food. Both species will actively kill an unsupervised cub, but that’s a slighly different topic. Infanticide is largely the predator way of life (minus the cheetah)
However, studies have recently shown that hyenas deepen and form social ties by mobbing lions; suggesting, there are deeper reasons for hyenas challenging lions at kills they obviously can’t/won’t overpower. There’s a complex, social dynamic at play.
But, to the question: when two apex predators butt heads…violence is the outcome. No different here. The two species competiton is much like the saying: “only steel sharpens steel.”
Much is true of these two apex predators.
