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Science in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota
Bison Research at Ordway Prairie
Mid rut
August 1, 2007 Update
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| Bison bulls fighting, Ordway Prairie Preserve Photo courtesy of Gustavus Adolphus College research team |
Fights are an exciting and essential part of the bison rut. Through fighting and other contest activities, such as bellowing, bulls work to sort out a hierarchy, even if it is only temporary.
Fighting requires a huge amount of energy and risk on the part of the competitors, so bulls do not rush easily into them. They first go through a complex sequence of aggressive displays in order to determine if the fight is worth the risk involved. Here is an account of one fight that the Ordway Prairie researchers witnessed:
“A large bull moves through the herd with a definite purpose. His tail is raised straight in the air, which is a display of dominance. 'Hipspot,' the current dominant bull, stamps his feet heavily as he approaches 'Bruiser,' who is tending one of the more desirable cows in the herd. Bruiser bellows loudly at him and leaves his cow to meet this approaching challenge. His bellow is met by an even louder, fiercer bellow from Hipspot. The bellows continue and increase in intensity as the bulls move closer. They stop to wallow just meters apart, violently throwing their enormous masses against the ground. Rising from clouds of dust, they move side by side, showing off their muscular flanks as they circle each other. Their heads meet in a nodding gesture. There is no backing out now. Finally, they lock horns and begin brutally pushing each other back and forth for nearly three minutes! As they slam together for another round, Hipspot slips and Bruiser’s horn meets him right in the eye. Hipspot runs away, blood streaming down his face. Bruiser has won; he can now go on to challenge any other bulls that stand between him and the top. Hipspot, on the other hand, has suffered a terrible loss. Not only has he lost his position as top breeder, but he also will be greatly disadvantaged by this partial blindness for the remainder of the rut and possibly for the rest of his life.”
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| Injured bison bull, Ordway Prairie Photo courtesy of Gustavus Adolphus College research team |
Fights are extremely dangerous for the bulls involved. Researchers have seen several injuries from fights this season, ranging from minor split horns to gored sides and legs, to Hipspot’s serious eye injury. But for many bulls, these risks are worth a chance to rise in the hierarchy and to sire the next generation. Thus, the genes in the next generation will be from the strongest bulls in the herd.
Back to main bison research page
