See a Pack of Wild Dogs Literally Dig Out a Warthog From Its Burrow

These wild dogs may have you rethinking the label “man’s best friend.” In the video found below, a pack of wild dogs ferociously hunts down a warthog, going so far as to dig it out of the ground. 

Watch the Video Below! (Not for Sensitive Viewers)

To start the clip, a group of wild dogs which resemble a pack of hyenas appear to be swarming an area. Upon deeper investigation, it is shown that the dogs are hunting down a warthog that has burrowed in the ground as a form of defense. 

The dogs quickly begin digging into the ground, creating a cloud of dust that obscures the camera’s vision. With some teamwork and determination, the dogs were eventually able to coax the hog from his burrow. In the end, the dogs were able to take the hog down together, and each pack member took some meat as a well-deserved reward. 

Why Do Warthogs Burrow in the Ground? 

When not in the face of danger, warthogs typically burrow in the ground for general protection, or to care for their young. Burrowing in the ground is a great way to have a shelter that is cool and secluded from predators. Warthogs have tough hooves and powerful legs that they can use to burrow quickly. 

As shown in the video, when warthogs are threatened, they may also quickly burrow to evade predators. One of the reasons why this works so well is that warthogs have tough tusks that allow them to defend a burrow opening. 

Don’t think warthogs are cowards though; they are not afraid to defend themselves against wild dogs. In the worst-case scenario, warthogs are also great at running from predators. 

Is it Normal For Wild Dogs to Hunt Together? 

Depending on the species involved, wild dogs are semi-pack animals. In other words, their social organization depends on the situation that they are in. 

When they are typically living, most canines are solitary animals, meaning they will try to hunt alone, eat alone, and live alone. Living alone in the wild can pose its own set of challenges, which is why some dogs tend to pack together. 

As mentioned, packing together can provide a few benefits to wild dogs. Some of the most important benefits include an increased ability to find food, share food, and hunt larger prey. For instance, wild dogs can get prey that is up to 20 times their size when in a group. 

In the end, wild dogs can vary in their social behavior, however hunting as a pack has a lot of benefits, such as the ability to take down larger prey. In most videos where wild dogs are hunting prey like warthogs or even waterbucks, you will likely see them exhibiting pack behavior. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Colorado State University Libraries, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons – License / Original