The unique bond between these two predatory species is a hallmark example of an ecological interaction known as mutualism – a type of symbiotic relationship between species pairs where all participating animal species benefit from the interactions.
Other symbiotic relationships in nature include those where only one of the species benefits from the interaction while the other is harmed in the process. However, that is not the case we will discuss below.
Photographers and wildlife trappers often capture images and videos of these special predator duos – a prairie wolf and a honey badger in forests and national parks across the United States during the summer. But how exactly do they hunt together, and what benefits do they gain from this collaboration?
In fact, both of these animals are incredibly effective predators; however, they share the same prey, yet their hunting approaches and skills are quite different.
While prairie wolves are agile and primarily rely on chasing prey across the plains, honey badgers are exceptional “diggers” who prefer to hunt by burrowing underground. As a result, when faced with either predator, smaller mammal species employ different escape tactics depending on whether the predator is a prairie wolf or a honey badger.
Consequently, not every hunt is successful for them. Although honey badgers can dig up their prey, they are quite slow when outside in the open. On the other hand, prairie wolves can catch prey on the ground, but if the prey is hiding underground, they must wait for it to emerge from its burrow before they can chase it.
However, when honey badgers and prairie wolves combine their skills and work together, they can hunt prairie dogs, ground squirrels, or many other rodent species with a much higher success rate than when hunting alone. Numerous studies on this topic have shown that when these two species team up, the benefits they gain often outweigh the risks (such as one of them monopolizing the prey), and instances of the two predators sharing their catches have been recorded many times.
The foundation of their relationship is mutual compensation: While honey badgers have strong claws that enable them to dig into the burrows of their prey, prairie wolves have the ability to chase targets on the ground. When hunting together, honey badgers will locate the entrances of rodent burrows to attack, while prairie wolves keep watch at other burrow entrances to prevent prey from escaping.
However, as winter arrives, with the onset of colder months, the need for cooperation becomes less important for honey badgers. In winter, honey badger hunting becomes straightforward and easy; they simply need to dig into the burrows of hibernating prey and search for their meals within.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), these two species have developed an open relationship. Prairie wolves can hunt prey if it runs while honey badgers dig burrows searching for prey if it enters the underground burrow system. Together, they move faster and dig better than the rodents they typically hunt. Thus, while most of their interactions seem friendly and mutually beneficial, as winter begins, this relationship gradually cools, and they act as if they have never met.
The Prairie Wolf (Canis latrans) is a canid closely related to wolves and domestic dogs. They are a small pack hunting species only found in North America. Despite averaging 14 kg in weight, prairie wolves are agile and skilled hunters. They are known for their intelligence and adaptability even in harsh prairie environments. This species is omnivorous, often hunting rodents such as rabbits, pheasants, and squirrels, and sometimes they are even seen hunting larger prey like deer and foxes.
The Honey Badger is a short-legged omnivore in the weasel family. In America, they are commonly found in the western and central parts of the country, northern Mexico, and central Canada. Their habitat includes grasslands similar to their available prey, such as ground squirrels, mice, and marmots. Due to sharing the same living area, instead of choosing to compete with each other, prairie wolves and honey badgers opt for a mutually beneficial partnership after winter ends.
