Marked by deep guttural bellows echoing across Yellowstone National Park’s Lamar and Hayden Valleys, it is once again bison mating season also known as the rut. Along with vocalizations, bison bulls courtship behavior includes violent displays of wallowing where males roll on the ground kicking up massive dust clouds and spectacular male on male clashes.
One such clash that happened on a road inside the park was caught on video and posted to Yellowstone’s social media simply titled “Bison Fight.” In it a bison, which can weigh up to 2,200lbs, is lifted off the ground in clash of heads and ejected into the embankment. Bison fights are often short lived, but in the brief moments of confrontation the raw power of North America’s largest land mammal is on true display.
To provide context of how much energy bulls dedicate towards courtship behavior during the rut, they can actually lose up to 12% of their body weight as breeding activities take time away from normal grazing.
With bison mating season currently happening in Yellowstone National Park, officials advise guests exercise extra caution in their presence. Throughout the year visitors are required to stay 25 yards away from bison but during this time when they particularly aggressive, additional distance is advised.
Yellowstone Bison Safety:
Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal. Bison are unpredictable and can run three times faster than humans. Always stay at least 25 yards away from bison.
- Give bison space when they are near a campsite, trail, boardwalk, parking lot, or in a developed area. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in close proximity. 
- Approaching bison threatens them, and they may respond by bluff charging, head bobbing, pawing, bellowing, or snorting. These are warning signs that you are too close and that a charge is imminent.
- Do not stand your ground. Immediately walk or run away from the animal. Spray bear spray as you are moving away if the animal follows you.
