“Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, But here’s my number, so call me, maybe?” It’s that season again! Fall leaves, pumpkin spice, and the elk rut. Neat. The elk mating season in Yellowstone (rut) generally occurs from early September to mid-October. Elk gather in mixed herds—many females and calves, with a few bulls nearby. Call me? Bulls bugle to announce their availability and fitness to females and to warn and challenge other bulls. It’s a whole thing. When answered, bulls move toward one another and sometimes engage in battle for access to the cows. They crash their antlers together, push each other intensely, and wrestle for dominance. While loud and extremely strenuous, fights rarely cause serious injury. (Possibly some hurt egos.) The weaker bull ultimately gives up and wanders off. If you’re in the neighborhood, why? Just make sure to keep a safe distance from any rut activity. Bull elk are unpredictable, can run quickly, and may change direction without using a blink...