Jay Stebbins took this photo on Deertrail Drive in Bear Valley Springs of a large American Elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) bull resting in the shade.
While resting, this massive bull was also keeping an eye on his harem of cow elk, who were also resting or grazing nearby. During the autumn rut, bulls will vigorously defend their group of cows and calves against other bull elk that might be trying to compete for mating opportunities.
This bull appears to be in prime health, with a substantial antler rack and good overall weight. The autumn rut has been underway for weeks, and many local residents have heard bulls “bugling” as they competed for the affections of cow elk.
The term bugling suggests more of a brassy, horn sound, while to me bull elk make more of a whistling, snort sound — it’s kinda high-pitched, and if I was picking instruments to compare it to, I might be more inclined to say whistle or flute rather than bugle. But the term bugling does suggest more of a military, combative circumstance, and the bulls do compete fiercely for the cows.
The jousting of bull elk is very different from the concussive battling of bighorn sheep rams, who draw back and then charge one another, colliding head-on and causing loud knocks that echo in mountains.
Elk, on the other hand, are really wrestling: the real combat occurs after they lock antlers. These are branched to reduce the chance of serious injury — the antlers interlock at the forks of the tines, so the bulls can wrestle without getting impaled.
Once their antlers lock, each bull tries to shove the other one backwards and demonstrate which is stronger — like sumo wrestlers trying to be the first to make their opponent step outside the circle. Eventually, the weaker bull yields and runs off.
NATURAL SIGHTINGS is a regular feature of the Tehachapi News edited by Jon Hammond which showcases photos of the natural beauty that enhances the quality of life in Tehachapi. If you have a good quality image of plants, animals, insects, trees, birds, weather phenomena, etc., taken in the Tehachapi area, you may submit it to the Tehachapi News for possible publication. Submissions can be dropped by the News office in the form of a print or CD, or sent by email to: [email protected].