The warm weather of the past days has melted much of the
snow in the meadow revealing an elk wallow. During the fall rut (breeding
season), the bull elk create a mud hole where they urinate then thrash around
in the pungent, wet earth. Trees and shrubs are often torn from the ground by
their massive antlers.
The bull elk use this process in an attempt to increase their
presence and dominance for it is the most dominate male who will have the
greatest success during the breeding season.
Even now, nearly five months later, the earthy, musty smell
still lingers. In a matter of months when the meadows green up and the aspen
trees breakout in leaf, the elk calves will begin arriving fulfilling the
cycle.
From Fleur Creek Farm
Beautiful! How close is this to your house?
ReplyDeleteThe wallow is out in the middle of our meadow - probably a 1/4 mile from the house. We often hear the bulls at night when the bedroom window is open.
ReplyDelete