Younger bulls shed and begin growth later. Deer’s antlers are honeycombed bone tissue. Elk antlers in mature bulls begin to regrow as soon as they are cast in February or March. Deer are like moose and elk they are ungulates, mammals with hooves. ![]() If this were true, a male during the rut (breeding season) could assess age, social status, and strength without actually fighting or risking injury and perhaps death (about 5 percent of the mortality in male elk is attributed to injuries in male-male fights). Deer shed their antlers during late fall to early winter. North American deer, in particular, choose to retain their antlers longer, choosing their safety over being a preferential mating partner. Third, antlers act as a signal to assess dominance. The researchers claim that this decision likely influences the evolution of the species over time. If they keep their old antlers on longer, they will be safer but may be less attractive when mating season rolls in. If they shed their antlers early, they increase their chances of finding a partner in the next mating season but also with a higher risk of falling prey to wolves because they have no antlers to protect themselves. The discovery revealed the tough decision that male elk face each year. Wolves hunt male elk with no antlers even if they are healthy, which is contrary to previous knowledge that the predators focus their hunt on weak or sick prey. Analyzing data over a dozen years, the researchers determine that wolves target male elk that have lost their antlers. It was unclear why the male elk shed their old antlers in different times, but wildlife biologists believe that they have found their answer while observing the elk and wolves in Yellowstone National Park. This gives the male elk several months before mating season in the fall. Some elk drop their antlers to start growing new ones by early March, while others, mostly the younger elk, keep their antlers until the end of April. Male Elks: Bigger Antlers Or Safety?Ī study by University of Montana researchers, published in the Nature Ecology & Evolution journal, focused on a decision that male elk need to make each year.Įlk regrow their antlers every year, with the antlers becoming bigger and better, as more time is provided for their growth. In Yellowstone National Park, these predators include wolves, which are among the most intelligent hunters in the animal kingdom. Other deer species, such as reindeer and caribou. The antlers, however, have an important secondary function, and that is to protect themselves from predators. For example, some deer species, such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk, shed their antlers every year. At this time, small stub-like antlers will start their growth from the base of the pedicle. In addition, male elk may lock their antlers in battle to win the favor of a female elk. Deer first begin to grow antlers between early winter and late spring. ![]() The first is to attract female elk, with bigger antlers making them more preferable mates. The antlers growing on the heads of male elk have two purposes.
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