Montana buffalo mating season

they could have had it all ... but not today

I drove about 15 miles onto the Montana prairie hoping to find the herd ... and I did wondering what would happen next ...

To identify reproductive status, this male uses the flehmen response as an olfactory mechanism based on pheromones in the female's urine or genitals.

This response is characterised by the animal curling back its top lip exposing the front teeth & gums, then inhaling & holding the posture for several seconds. The male licks the female, with the neck stretched & head held high in the air for a general investigation. The flehmen response often gives the appearance that the animal is "grimacing", "smirking" or "laughing".

Apparently, she was not ready for him so he moved on

National Bison Range
Established in 1908, the National Bison Range is one of the oldest national wildlife refuges in the nation. It offers wonderful opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography of large animals such as elk, deer, bighorn sheep, black bear, and of course, bison.

Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/national_bi...

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