Lovely capture. I wonder how they distinguish between what is practice and what is the real thing. Does it only become real when there is a receptive female in the area? I guess I’m asking, what is the signal that turns the rut on.
@gardencat The rut in many species is triggered by shorter day lengths. For different species, the timing of the rut depends on the length of the gestation period (pregnancy), usually occurring so the young are born in the spring. This is shortly after new green growth has appeared thereby providing food for the females, allowing them to provide milk for the young, and when the temperatures are warm enough to reduce the risk of young becoming hypothermic.
lovely countryside