Coyotes will kill calves if they can. But if an angry cow confronts them, they run away. An elk's flailing hooves can easily kill a coyote. Wolves used to be the primary predators of elk, but they are rare now in the United States. Where they do exist in the same area as elk, they continue to hunt in efficient groups that catch calves long after the young elk are capable of escaping bears.
Mountain lions are solitary predators that can kill elk of any age.
In northwestern Montana, where they coexist with wolves and grizzlies, lions kill four times as many elk as the other predators. They dash about leaping and kicking, squealing and calling to each other. They race in circles, taking turns to splash through ponds and puddles. Then, as suddenly as they started frolicking, they quiet down and return to feeding. Instinct drives elk to behave in ways that promote the survival of their species by protecting and promoting their ability to reproduce.