Early last September about 8:30AM on 395 through the Big Pine alfalfa ranch where that huge herd of elk hang out. I'm an armchair zoologist, watch ALL the Discovery/Animal Planet shows and I was treated to a live show of animal behavior.
I was lucky all the animals were up against the fence along 395. There was an old bull elk, arthritic in one front leg, the other injured, had a harem of approx. 36-40 cows. Obviously the king of the whole herd.
He has to impregnate all those cows, not a bad job you think, BUT so did all the bachelor bulls who were dogging his heels. The old boy had to keep his cows moving, running back and forth behind the girls like a cowboy moving cattle. I counted approx. 13 bachelor bulls following behind the herd a couple of hundred yards back. The old bull finally found a second to eat. The second he lowered his head to graze, the young bulls charged into the herd and tried to separate out some cows. The old bull stopped eating, had to immediately roust out these horny young guys and retrieve his harem.
I imagine last year was the old boy's last reign. He must be too old to keep up this kind of work. I don't think he even got to sleep at night as the bachelors are probably relentlessly trying to steal cows 24 hrs a day.
You see it on TV, but to witness the spectacle of survival of the fittest in person just gives you the goose bumps. Probably in August the fighting will commence. A couple of years ago, I was driving by, saw two bulls, heads down, ready to fight for breeding rights and I didn't stop, turn around and watch!
If you're lucky to be in this area this time of year, especially in the morning and herd is close to the fence (or bring binoculars/telescope), DO stop and witness Nature at some of her most spectacular rituals.
P.S. In 1998 while leaving the Dow Motel in LP at 3AM for a Whitney run, heard an elk bugling on the east outskirts of town. You can't buy an experience like that. Really, the sound brought tears to my eyes. I felt so lucky for the chance to hear it locally and not have to travel to Montana.
