The deer rut is madness: let's take a closer look at the full degree of madness (13 photos)

Autumn is a time of depression, colds and intense studying for people. But there are those who enjoy the rain, mud and endless grayness. Deer! Right now they are happily jumping through the forest, screaming like crazy and making all the forests, fields and mountain peaks stand on end. And all because the rutting season has come.





Lyokha, damn it, I promised not to get drunk! What am I going to tell your wife when I bring her?

Almost all large ungulates in our latitudes have their roof blown off from August to November. Nature has provided such a time frame so that the result of love affairs is born in the summer - surrounded by warmth and lush vegetation.



The baby boom among deer begins in early May and ends in June.

The main trigger is the decrease in daylight hours. The brain automatically notices that the nights are getting longer and sends signals about the readiness to party. But there are more sophisticated options. For example, American white-tailed deer are savvy about the phases of the moon. They begin the breeding season exactly a week after the second full moon in October. As soon as the body understands that it is time for love, all needs, except one, are switched off. A horse dose of testosterone in males or estrogen in females, and complete mobilization for a single task - procreation.





Guys and girls, make some noise!



Shouldn't I sing a song... AAAA LOVE!

At this time, forest ungulates become inattentive and spit on caution - ladies love risk-takers! This fact greatly pleases hunters, but completely upsets motorists. Horned ones show up in the rifle scope as willingly as they fly into the windshield with their entire carcass. According to statistics, the mortality rate of moose from wheels is higher than from poachers' bullets - from 2015 to 2020, 8.9 thousand individuals died in road accidents!



According to statistics, accidents involving moose occur most often. An accident is dangerous for both the driver and the animal.

If the ungulates remain alive and healthy, they actively prepare for dates. The antlers covered with fluff are exposed and finally ossify for tournaments. At this time, moose and deer eat almost nothing and move a lot, which is why they lose weight seriously. In a couple of months of the rut, the animal loses 20-30% of its weight.



Don't worry, the animal's horns are fine. That's how the skin comes off them when they completely ossify. Now this warrior with a chic weapon is ready for battle!

Cuckolds certainly have their own unique methods of attracting ladies. In the mornings and evenings, they scream furiously throughout the forest. By how loudly and low the deer does this, females evaluate the groom, and males - the competitor. The larger the animal, the lower the frequency of the sound it can produce. And while the ladies have not yet responded to the call, the males preen themselves: they roll in the mud, rub against trees, leave smelly marks and urinate on their feet. A man covered in scars and dirt, literally reeking of testosterone, is a true standard!



When you don't have social media, but you still want to put a spark on her story.

The ladies don't behave any better. They also scream and mark their territory, leaving clues for the suitors. Their heat, that is, readiness for conception, lasts from several days to tens of hours. If nothing comes of it, you'll have to wait a whole month until the next cycle. That's why the ladies don't hesitate to take the initiative.



OOO, I HEAR THE SOUND OF A WOMAN!

Ungulates have a collective date. Females always walk in herds with their girlfriends. Mature males are always alone. If a cuckold has found a harem and won hearts, he will become a lover for all the ladies in the herd. This is ideal. In reality, some idiot has already occupied the territory and is cultivating the local females. This is why deer cross their antlers in a duel. The strongest gets the right to own the harem.



A typical shootout of boys behind the school.



Seryoga, maybe all this is in vain? It seems like these women are treating us like deer...

Deer fights rarely result in death from wounds. The mortality rate is only 2-5%. Males suffer much more from exhaustion. The dominant, guarding his girls, lives in eternal paranoia. What if a young man is waiting under the bushes, secretly going on a date with females? What if a stronger rival comes? The alpha deer forgets about sleep, water, food. He is always on guard.



In rage, deer attack everything that moves!

And his fears are not without reason. The herd is always accompanied by young males. They are not able to compete with big machos, but they are always ready to experience female love, while no one is looking. Seasoned men are also a threat. A fight between equal opponents lasts for several hours. This is not like lifting a barbell a couple of times in the gym!



— Sir, you must give in to me. — No, I insist that you must give in to me.



— Oh, you impudent fellow!

The testosterone madness lasts from several weeks to a couple of months. When the animals release hormones, they literally fall off their feet from fatigue and hunger. The probability of death of former dominants during this period is extremely high - they have burned all their reserves, and the most food-deprived period has come! Up to 25% of males simply cannot withstand such a load and die from exhaustion!