Meanwhile, at Yellowstone National Park…
An incredible video of a bull bison charging another male was uploaded to Yellowstone’s Facebook page by park staff.
Officials explained the situation, saying, “Bison mating season is still going on in the park. Male bison are particularly aggressive right now, though all bison and other wildlife can be dangerous,” they wrote. “Remember to always keep your distance—25 yards from bison and elk; 100 yards from all other wildlife.”
Yellowstone National Park is the only place in the United States with a continuously free-ranging bison population that has existed since prehistoric times. While these massive animals once roamed nearly all of North America, their near-extinction in the 19th century means that today, you can only see them in the wild on protected public lands, tribal lands, and nature reserves.
Brought back from the brink of extinction, these inspiring survivors are still at risk today. Currently, there are about 500,000 bison on private lands and roughly 30,000 on public and tribal lands. However, their populations remain fragmented, with the largest group residing in Yellowstone, which is home to roughly 5,000 bison.
Bison are the largest terrestrial animals in North America, with males standing up to six feet tall and weighing nearly 2,000 pounds. Their rutting season begins in June and extends into September in the park, and you’ll want to steer clear. During this time, the bulls will butt heads and fight for mates, sometimes even to death. Once a dominant bull chooses a female, he’ll defend her against all other males.
While a collision like this would knock a human out, these animals are made for head-clashing — they’ve got robust, thick skulls and short, curbed horns that can grow to two feet.
Watch the full video below:
Learn more about the bison rutting season in the video below from the BBC:
