Elk Rut

Elk Rut. The Sound of Autumn. , As the days grow short and temperatures dip, bull elk feel the nudge of autumn. Instinct and experience guide them. Ready to compete, bulls pierce the air with bugling – their distinctive mating calls., Gathering and Guarding a Harem , Robust bulls rely on more than muscle to compete in the rut. Herding skills and a spirited attitude are vital, along with a stout pair of antlers. A bull must defend his harem of cows – sometimes to the death – or risk losing them., While two bulls battle, other bulls sneak in to whisk cows away. Unattended females often wander, only to be herded again. For more than a month, mature bull elk have very little time for food or rest. The rut demands full attention., Bugle Calls in the Fort , Long before soldiers arrived to protect Yellowstone’s wonders, or built Fort Yellowstone, or graced the parade grounds with bugle calls, bull elk sounded their own bugles., Elk are wild and unpredictable. They roam freely in the park today, as they did on 1886 when soldiers first marched into Mammoth Hot Springs., Too Close! , During the rut, bull elk are agitated and extremely dangerous, even when resting. Elk are quick and powerful. Keep your distance. , Stay at least 25 yards (23 m) from elk at all times. , < Second Marker : > , Calving Season , New Life in the Elk Herd, A Few Minutes Old. Cow elk give birth in May or June. In less than an hour, a newborn calf stands for its first meal. , Motherly Instinct. Newborns cannot keep up with the herd. A cow keeps her calf safe by hiding it, then grazes or rests nearby. Like its mother, the newborn uses instinct, lying still until its mother returns., Cow elk are very protective of their calves. A cow may charge if you venture near her young, even if you do not see a calf. Stay alert!