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This Month in Yellowstone
Ritualized Elk Aggression

Bull elk engage in ritualized aggressive behavior far more often than truly aggressive behavior. In this way they can communicate their aggressiveness with another bull without actually risking injury. Bob says they will usually “do everything they can to avoid an actual clash.” While watching this video, watch carefully for these behaviors by the bulls.

Side by side displays – Two bulls who have harems that are near one another will walk side by side between the harems to prevent the other bull from pulling cows out of the others harem.

Bowing display – Two bulls that wish to warn one another to “back off” will often walk up to each other and lower their heads as if they are bowing.

Charging an inanimate object between two bulls – Two bulls will often choose to attack a sage brush plant or a log that is in between them. In this way they can display their willingness to be aggressive to the other without actually clashing directly with the other.

The last interaction that you see in the video is a true clash. This sort of directly aggressive encounter is a serious event and can result in the death of one of the bulls.

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