Many large predators are also facultative scavengers that may compete with and depredate other species at carcasses. Yet, the ecological impacts of facultative scavenging by large predators, or their “scavenging effects”, still receive relatively little attention in comparison to their predation effects. To address this knowledge gap, we comprehensively examine the roles played by and impacts of facultative scavengers, with a focus on large canids: the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), dingo (Canis dingo), Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis), gray wolf (C. lupus), maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), and red wolf (C. rufus). Specifically, we (i) provide a conceptual overview of the community interactions around carrion that can be initiated by facultative scavengers, (ii) review the evidence for scavenging effects of large canids, (iii) discuss external factors that may diminish or enhance the effects of large canids as scavengers, and (iv) identify aspects of this phenomenon that require additional research attention.