Friday, March 15, 2013

Elk Wallow



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. 

 

2 comments:

  1. Beautiful! How close is this to your house?

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  2. The 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.

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