Rut = mating season of ruminant animals such as deer, sheep, elk, moose, ibex, goats, pronghorn and Asian and African antelope.
The rut in many species is triggered by a shortening of the length of daylight hours each day. The timing of the rut for different species depends on the length of their gestation period (length of pregnancy), usually occurring so the young are born in the spring, shortly after new green growth has appeared (which provides food for the females, allowing them to provide milk for the young), and when the temperatures are warm enough that the young will not die.
ELK
The gestation period for an elk is 240 to 262 days, therefore, they are starting to show "rut" activity now. During this time...
* mature bulls compete for the attentions of the cows and will try to defend females in their harem (group of females)
*A bull will defend his harem of 20 cows or more from competing bulls and predators.
* Rival bulls challenge opponents by bellowing and by paralleling each other, walking back and forth
* If neither bull backs down, they engage in antler wrestling.
*Bulls will vocalize in loud screams known as bugling, which can be heard for miles and are most commonly heard early and late in the day.
* Females are attracted to the males that bugle more often and have the loudest call.
** Antler Wrestling
** To hear an elk bugle, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYzWmKlZtrU
