Photo by Karine Aigner kaigner | Though vilified as the perpetual bad guy, the hyena is one of the more interesting and intelligent mammals I’ve encountered. Despite its appearance, the spotted hyena is more closely related to a cat than a dog, and although it’s believed to be a scavenger, it actually kills 95% of its own prey. Hyenas live in matriarchal clans ruled by an alpha female. Females stand almost twice the size of their male counterparts and are more aggressive. Adult males rank last in the clan—they even eat last at a carcass. My experience with hyenas here in South Africa has been nothing short of fascinating. I’ve watched them fend off a pride of lions and scrimmage with African wild dogs. I’ve spent hours sitting alongside a den as females played with the pups. I’ve had them creep up to the truck where I was stationed, as this youngster did, and even had hyenas sniff my toes—and still have all ten to show for it. I'll never see this species as a bad guy—and I'm forever ...