Do wild canids kill for fun?

When large predators kill in apparent excess of need, some are quick to conclude that this constitutes killing for ‘sport’ or ‘fun’. Wild canids are the ideal candidates to explore this phenomenon. Although aspects of hunting and killing prey might be pleasurable, predation is inherently risky, but also essential for survival and reproduction. We therefore equate hunting and killing more readily with work, than with leisure. Usually, the struggle between predators and prey remains balanced, but occasionally shifts to favour predators. We contend that the logical result is for predators to ‘make hay while the sun is shining’.