Pronghorn Rut, Yellowstone National Park

Photo of a pronghorn buck during the rut.
Pronghorn Buck Defends His Harem

I’m in Yellowstone.  I came for the rut.  It’s been quite warm and that may have slowed things down a bit.

This buck was busy defending his harem.  I observed him for about an hour before sunset and he was kept busy by four other bucks.  He chased them all away without a fight.   It’s a bit like swatting flies though.

Photo of a pronghorn buck during the rut.
The Rut Is On.

This buck was on a course which would bring him through the harem.  He watched from a few hundred yards away and finally skirted around the above buck and his harem.  I’m not sure why he didn’t act like the other bucks.  Maybe he’d say he’s a lover, not a fighter.  But that doesn’t work.  In the pronghorn world, the only lovers are the fighters.

0 Responses

  1. Pronghorn elk are beautiful and I got a chuckle out of your message, when you added what the
    male that avoided a fight might be thinking.

  2. Great shots, Jim! Was this the buck near the Gardiner entrance? We had a lot of fun watching that group throughout our trip, and the buck seemed to take pretty good care of his harem.

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