Although the deer breeding season, or the rut, is mainly over in our area, I came across some fascinating video footage of bucks sparring so I thought I would write a short blog about this marvelous phenomenon. I have a fun small collection of some other nature videos which I will share in future postings of this blog.
In early fall, less daylight triggers an increase in the bucks’ testosterone, the hormone responsible for, among other things, antler maturation. Male white-tailed deer grow and shed antlers annually. In the warmer months the antlers are soft and covered with a sensitive tissue known as velvet. By fall, the antlers harden the velvet that covers them dies and dries up; the deer scrape them against trees to remove the velvet in preparation for the rut. Antlers are used in sparring with other bucks during the mating season. The antlers are shed from mid-December to late-January.
To establish dominance in a hierarchy, bucks engage in sparring with each other. They lock their antlers and push until one buck backs down, yielding dominance to the other buck. Sparring is not fighting. Once a buck gains dominance, he maintains his position in the hierarchy just by staring down other bucks. If another buck rises to the challenge, the two deer engage in a fight, clashing antlers and pushing until one buck backs down.
This video is a real find and rare footage of a dramatic and rare occurrence in nature. The outcome is really special. You must take a look and do not worry…in spite of what you think might happen, no deer is injured at all although it is very dramatic.
Deer In Winter
The rut leaves a buck frail and tired. Sometimes a dominant buck is so weak that he can barely survive the winter. Bucks use up testosterone during the breeding season, and this causes their racks to fall off in the winter.
Deer metabolism slows down in the winter, so the animals don’t have to eat as much to keep their bodies going. They survive on whatever twigs or brush they can find and their thick winter coat keeps them warm.
Car-Deer Collision Tips
Car-deer collisions have more than doubled in Connecticut in the past 15 or so years. The most dangerous time is during the fall and early winter breeding season but the danger is still very much with us. The peak times for deer-vehicle accidents are after dusk during weekday rush hour in the winter darkness. Some quick tips to avoid deer accidents: Slow Down. Wear your seat belt. Use high beams when possible to watch for eyes reflecting in headlights. Be aware that deer travel in groups – if you see one, there are probably more. Avoid swerving which could result in a worse accident with another car or cause the car to spin out of control. Instead, brake and hold the wheel straight.
If you have a question or comment, or a nature topic you would like to hear about on my blog, please feel free to comment below here on this blog, or email me at madelinedennis@optonline.net.
If you would like me to let you know when my next blog is posted, please send me an email at madelinedennis@optonline.net.
Check out my listing of Connecticut nature and environmental web sites to the right on this page.
