Dingoes typically hunt solitarily, but they may also hunt in pairs or small packs. They are opportunistic predators and will eat anything they can catch, including small mammals (such as rodents, rabbits, possums), birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. They also scavenge on dead animals and will eat carrion if they find it.
Dingoes are skilled hunters and are known to be able to successfully capture prey that is much larger than them. They typically rely on stealth and ambush to surprise their prey and they have a powerful jaw that can deliver a fatal bite.
Social Behavior
Dingoes are territorial animals, and they typically live in small family groups consisting of a male, a female, and their offspring. The size of the territory varies depending on the food availability, but it can be as large as 1,000 square kilometers.
Dingoes are very social animals and they communicate with each other through a variety of vocalizations, including barks, howls, and growls. They also use scent marking to communicate their territory and they may engage in physical displays, such as chasing or fighting, to establish dominance.
Reproduction
Dingoes typically reach sexual maturity at around two years of age and they breed once or twice a year. The female gives birth to a litter of 4-6 pups in a sheltered den. The pups are born blind and deaf, and they rely on their mother for food and protection. They are weaned at around 3-4 months of age and they become independent at around 9-12 months of age.
Conservation Status
Dingoes are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, due to their declining population in many areas. The main threats to dingoes include habitat loss, hunting and persecution by humans, and competition with other predators, such as feral dogs and cats.