View allAll Photos Tagged testosterone
As a peace loving TGirl I do wish someone would take that short little man on a testosterone fuelled power trip by the balls help and return the world to normality!!
Perhaps us TGirls should rule the world and show everybody that a little peace, love, tolerance and acceptance is a wonderful thing..?!
Big love to any peaceful, kind, tolerant, accepting, loving people out there...💖
Thanksgiving Morning for me was one of the best photographic events of my life to date.(except for the tornado photographs).I had been watching this testosterone ladened three year old buck chasing does in the height of the rutt.
As i crouched behind a corner post in full camouflage.He walked towards me exhausted from breeding the ladies all night (i can remember those days LOL) jumped the fence and then stopped after hearing the shutter clicking away.Stamped his foot and grunted at me.
For a moment i thought he wanted to breed me ! Thank the lord,there was a fence between him and i.
FYI this pic was taken a week prior to the end of deer hunting season and i`m happy to say that he made it.I have seen him several times since then Now he is at the mercy of motorists.
I just had to share this magic moment in nature with you all.My knees are still knocking
Activated 7-dehydrocholesterol Capsules :)
It’s a sad measure of the burden of failure in my life that no one has yet described me as ‘handsome’ uncoerced. You’d think I would have had some chance, at least, since I was born light blonde, blue-eyed and pleasantly freckled…
It was not to be. And my hope is waning… Well. Completely dead, actually.
The best I have managed so far for a description is ‘lovely man’. This has happened in so many independent contexts now that I tend to burst out laughing if someone says it (much to their perplexity!).
Can you imagine, though, how galling this would-be accolade is to someone who has striven all their life to be a hysteria-inducing, testosterone-filled, rippling hunk of seductive (to women) allure?
No. Believe me. You can’t.
I mean, ‘lovely man’ is not quite the same thing is it really? Not by a long shot. Well, let’s be frank, not even by a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile...
But I suppose it could be worse…
Maybe… perhaps :(
At least I am sure now that my Maker has a well-developed sense of ironic humour... as if I didn’t know that anyway!
But I digress and drag you through the despondent slough of my self-pity.
The point of the preamble, of course, is that fair-complexioned people are genetically adapted to live in the higher latitudes, where their skin needs to produce sufficient Vitamin D in the meagre sun.
I live at latitude 51.683638 North. In North American terms that’s a latitude north of Calgary, about the bottom of Hudson Bay. In the southern hemisphere that would be equivalent to about halfway between Australia’s southern coast and Antarctica.
Here in winter a decent candle is brighter than the sun most of the day, or so it seems.
Vitamin D is vital to maintaining bones and calcium levels in the body. It’s one of the vitamins that is only soluble in oil and it’s not stored, so we rely on our skins to make it. The lack of pigmentation in the skin maximises the manufacture in weak sunlight.
Or these days in winter we take supplements.
And in summer we use sunblock :)
So now you know, if you didn’t before, why a lot of Scandinavians are blonde. But it fails miserably, of course, to explain why I was born in the tropics...
This is a picture of Vitamin D capsules in an antique liqueur glass for the Macro Mondays theme “Contained”. I’d often thought the capsules made interesting shapes and light lenses so I wanted give the idea a try.
The bowl of the glass is 50,800 microns wide, so we are within the group’s limits ;) Yey!
PS I have just returned from over three weeks of famliness which, although fun, has meant that I am way behind on everyone’s photostreams. I doubt that I shall be able to do them justice but I hope, at least, to make a few comments here and there.
Thank you for taking the time to look. I hope you enjoy the image. Happy Macro Mondays :)
[Tripod mount; delayed shutter; manual focus; LED pencil torch lighting from above and behind; black card behind.
Developed in Capture One using levels to take out the background and adjusting the colour to get rid of a green cast and warm it up a bit.
Into Affinity for a bit of retouching.
Sharpened with High Pass/Linear blend.
Added a glow using a Lens Blur filter in Lighten blend mode with reduced opacity to balance the effect. I know this takes off the sharpness but I wanted a bit of fun and I was tired of the everything-must-be-pin-sharp yoke.
Extended the canvas to change the composition a bit, adding more black background; levelled it too as the tripod can’t have been level with the table.]
So this evening I heard about a park near Altona where young men with too much testosterone and too few braincells meet to settle imaginary scores.
Then I remembered seeing this strange fight a couple of weeks go. At first I thought the one was dead (top left) but then I saw it stir (bottom left) and a few seconds later it was , maybe saying "ok, you already won, now leave me alone!". A couple of seconds later they both moved on!
Was it a fight, or some other ritual?!
No exif, so, for the record, taken late in the evening on 15 January 2016 with E-M1 & 40-150mm + 1.4x TC at F4
Today's story and sketch "by me", as I sit at my man cave drawing table pondering the terribly bad decision I made this morning going after the Space Monkeys that had escaped from the maximum security prison on the Planet Feridoo. Rescue Randy was on Mars with his Brazilian Esthetician girlfriend Jordan, who is removing massive amounts of Randy's excess body hair, a condition he's developed after his latest reconstruction by the Medical Staff at UCSB, they used way to much crash test dummy testosterone, a story that was covered in a previous tale. And the go to guy when the Earth really needs a professional Bounty Hunter it's JB, but this week JB is chaperoning a group of swim suit models at the Lake Havasu Miss Cosmos Beauty Pageant, which will be a story for another time. As you can see I have traveled through the space time continuum dimension Stargate in the back of the man cave, and traveled here just North of Santa Barbara, and located with the help of the space convict tracker chip, one of the escaped Space Monkeys, he seems to be terrorizing a family of squatters camping near the Nojoqui Falls Park near Solvang. And just seconds before I made eye contact with the beast, I see JB over my right shoulder, And am I relieved he received my urgent help message just in time, as the beast jumps off the roof of the squatters RV, and sprints off in a dead run, I will return to the man cave and leave the capture and half million dollar reward to Bounty Hunter JB. Be sure to look for the latest news and Space Monkeys update on this blog, until then taa ta the Rod Blog.
I firmly believe that the behavior of animals is far more complex and nuanced than we tend to give it credit for. I captured this image in south Texas near the peak of the white-tailed deer rut, when the testosterone levels of bucks is sky high, and we like to say they have only "one thing on their mind". After watching the large, mature buck chase does and run off rivals, I saw him pause for a moment to approach this little spike. They nuzzled one another and gently sparred for several minutes before the big buck went back to rutting. Perhaps they are related in some way? Or perhaps the mature buck needed a break from the lust and violence? Whatever the case may be, it was a special moment that I was glad to have witnessed.
Merry Christmas to all of my Flickr friends. I hope your day is filled with peace and joy!
Full of testosterone and getting ready for battle.
Wallowing Rutting stags urinate in muddy pits under trees or by water, then roll in it to anoint themselves. Both sexes also wallow in spring and summer to remove moulting fur.
Foliage head-dress Stags often adorn their antlers with scooped-up grass and bracken. This is a visual display to make them look bigger and more intimidating.
Bellowing Stags throw back their heads to roar – this also shows off their thick necks and manes to best advantage.
Antler shape Older stags have more branches in their antlers, with up to 16 points.
Gland secretions Preorbital (lachrymal) scent glands under the eyes discharge a dark fluid that may broadcast information about sex and age.
Smeared mud a rutting stag’s flanks, chest and legs are often caked in smelly mud.
Bark damage to trees Bark scraped off the trunks of trees using the lower incisors may be part of the rut, or simply a feeding sign.
Thrashed vegetation In August, stags thrash the foliage to rub the dry velvet off their antlers. In the rut this becomes a display.
Snapped branches Head-shaking stags also break off branches up to about 1m above the ground.
For licensing of my images see: Getty images or Alamy the links are below.
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Maturing seeds ready to be scattered.
Not all balding is bad. I read from somewhere that balding is related to the level of testosterone. At least this stem of dandelion is spreading its offspring far and wide #seeds #balding #365 #instanature #instadaily #instagram #dandelion #monday #365grateful
The second consecutive 5.00am alarm call didn't disappoint today when the conditions and light presented me with this wonderful opportunity for a shot I've been after for a long time. Even though it wasn't a cold morning, this testosterone fueled stag's breath was nicely illuminated against the dark background by the rising sun behind.
Face to face with a Red Deer Stag – This morning, as I stepped into Bradgate Park, I didn’t know what awaited me — but soon I found myself face to face with a magnificent red deer stag in its natural habitat.
It was a rare and thrilling encounter. By pure chance, the stag approached to within about 5–7 meters, allowing me to capture these close-up portraits.
At this time of year, red deer stags usually roar and clash their antlers in dramatic displays of strength and dominance — the “Deer Rut” is in full swing. Yet this morning was surprisingly calm.
During the rutting season, males are heavily driven by testosterone. They often forget to eat, become restless, and spend their days fighting rivals. For photographers, safety and respect are vital: never stand between a dominant stag and his harem, nor between two rivals who haven’t yet decided the outcome of their contest.
Wildlife photography often requires careful planning, logistics, and tested camera settings. In short, knowing your subject and your equipment is essential when working with such fleeting moments.
Despite the overcast light, I was greeted first by a young male and his lone female companion. Later, as I crossed the River Lin, I spotted two impressive stags — likely just after their morning feeding. This year, with the mild weather, the rut seems less intense; roaring is rare, and many stags appear calmer than usual.
After waiting patiently for Stonechats and Robins, I took a short break — and sometimes, as nature photographers know well, that’s when magic happens. About two hours later, two large males appeared from different directions and met near my path. One moved closer to me, watching the other intently. I quietly took cover behind an old oak fence, and to my surprise, the stag approached and paused just in front of me.
He was aware of my presence, yet remained calm. I didn’t move suddenly; when our eyes met, I pressed the shutter. He then passed by, continuing on his way.
These portraits were taken with patience, respect, and a bit of luck. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed the quiet connection with this majestic creature.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and inspiring weekend.
Field Observation: The stag was fully aware of my presence but showed no aggression. Maintaining a calm posture and avoiding direct eye contact for too long helped build trust. The combination of patience, quiet movement, and natural cover made these close portraits possible.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)
Early start to the day again!! Bushy Park is really 'rock & Rolling' at the moment
the boys have a lot of testosterone to overcome
Too much testosterone in one place is usually not a good thing.
Image imagined in MidJourney AI and finished with Topaz Studio and Lightroom Classic.
The last couple of weeks, as my wife and I have gone on inexpensive wildlife safaris in Isanti County in Minnesota, we have been treated to soybean fields full of deer. The ages of the deer range from exuberant spotted fawns to older bucks trying to act interested in family life.
There is a gradual change in where deer congregate after fawning season. Later in the spring, deer tend to move from wooded areas to short growth hayfields, ankle-high corn and expanses of wild grass. But, as the corn hits heights taller than the deer themselves, they tend to move into bean fields, partly because of increased visibility.
These lush bean fields also provide high-protein forage that supports antler growth and overall conditioning during this critical time of the year.
In a group of several dozen deer, as if posing for a portrait, these three bucks with velvet antlers stood in the soft light of a Minnesota summer morning. From a small rise in elevation, they had a good view of all the other deer.
Their easiness with each other suggests they may be part of a seasonal group of young to middle-aged bucks that congregate during summer.
Bachelor groups of deer form in the springtime once their antlers have started growing. Bucks are relatively tolerant of one another now, bound not by competition but by a shared need for safety and nutrition. As daylight stretches into long summer evenings, they often move together from bedding areas to food plots, using strength in numbers to remain continually alert to danger.
Toward the end of summer, the velvet peels off, the testosterone levels rise, and the peaceful alliances end, signaling the beginning of fall rutting rivalries. But for now, there is peace among them.
This warm scene captures not just the symmetry of their antlers and posture, but the quiet rhythm of summer—when bountiful fields feed the future and temporary friendships are formed among wild creatures.
(Photographed near Cambridge, MN)
Homosexuality has been recorded in about 130 bird species. Research from the Australian University of Newcastle found that homosexual behaviour in male birds was more common in birds that have a polygynous mating system, ie mate with more than one female. But female homosexuality tended to occur in monogamous species. They focused on 93 species where homosexuality had been recorded in wild birds and found that homosexual activity amounted to less than 5% of overall sexual activity. This boils down to which sex has more spare time to pursue sexual activity. In polygynous species the female typically undertakes all the incubation and chick-rearing duties. But in monogamous species the sexes often share these duties, so giving the female more time to pursue other interests. Mallards certainly fall into the promiscuous category as they will mate with several females if they can, and play no part whatsoever in incubation or chick-rearing duties. The small pond where I photographed these today had 13 male Mallards but no females. The males were clearly charged with testosterone and this male was on the receiving end.
I post this kind of photo because I find it interesting and I hope others will too. But my recent photo of a female Mallard being "raped" by three males seemed particularly unpopular. I'm wondering how many "likes" this one will get.
Red Deer / cervus elaphus. 10/10/18.
´RUTTING BEHAVIOUR.´ (4)
Trashing the ground and stirring the mud up in his shallow wallow. An image made last year of a testosterone charged Red Deer stag. He had just one thing on his mind.
I haven't seen a great many Capercaillies, and most of my sightings have been fleeting glimpses of birds disappearing into the forest. But this Capercaillie was different. This was one of those so-called rogue male Capercaillies that was pumped full of testosterone and ready for a fight. I had to get down low to get this point of view, and as soon as I was lower than the bird he took his advantage and attacked me. He clawed and pecked and clattered me with his wings, but it was still one of my most exciting and memorable wildlife experiences ever.
There is a lot of fighting at the carnival. It's not hard to believe. Lots of drinking, lots of testosterone, and lots of egos.
No, this is not Lance Armstrong’s bicycle. It is Alicja Kwade’s sculpture Journey without Arrival (Raleigh), part of the Public Arts Fund’s “Lightness of Being” exhibit in City Hall Park. “With familiar forms gone awry, her poetic works transform materials in ways that suggest time and space are malleable ideas,” says the artwork’s explanatory note, which adds “Please do not touch the work of art.”
I suppose this answers the question, “What is art?”
Art is being able to destroy a perfectly good bicycle
and charge more for it
after it has been made totally useless...
Rocky mountain bighorn sheep rut (breed) in November in our area. This large herd is located near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park and during rut congregates in an area where it's easy for observers and photographers to witness the testosterone-fueled antics of the rams. Although the frenzy to breed was mostly over by the time I took his photo, this healthy-looking guy and his compadres were still behaving as though they had half a chance of impregnating ewes. The ewes, on the other hand, were obviously completely disinterested.
He flipped over after encountering the branch in a mad dash to leave, but managed to right himself on the way down and nailed the landing no worse for the wear. Why this Mallard Drake felt compelled to check out the owl's nest is a mystery. It is spring, so maybe a testosterone overload has dulled his common sense😜
www.instagram.com/stevenrobinsonpictures
I have been trying to get a half way proficient picture of a Stag for years but have never felt any I have shot worked photographically. I have dipped in and out of trying to get what I wanted. Finally a bit of luck - this Alpha Stag is poised in front of his deer; in just the right place with an autumnal coloured background. This was shot in Altnaharra, Scotland. This shot is one of many reasons why I am such a huge advocate of fast lenses. I have nothing slower than 2.8 lenses, otherwise pictures like these just dont work. Of course...it also helps a great deal for astrophotography when the clouds clear out, but ironically we often stop down for such pictures.
NB - Warning to anyone - "Stags are wild animals and during the rut, the stags and bucks have sharp and dangerous antlers and are likely to demonstrate aggressive behaviour.
Rutting stags, in particular, are often pumped up with testosterone, and you could be putting yourself at risk." - British Deer Society.
Although this shot is up close and personal, do not be fooled: I was very far away from them.
The shortening days of Fall cause a buck's pineal gland to secrete melatonin which in turn produces a massive amount of testosterone. It seems like pencil-necked bucks suddenly look like a cervid Dick Butkus. Muscled up, fired up, and a little crazy, they are ready for a fight and to breed as many does as possible. The ritual of the Fall rut. Our beautiful world, pass it on.
I am seriously amazed!
I've lived here for 20 years now, and have become pretty familiar with the habits of deer.
I've learned that the does, for the most part, are not as quick to spook around me.
The yearlings are usually cautiously, curious.
But, the bucks are not interested in seeing if I'm a threat or not...they're outta there! The only exception is in the fall when they're pumped full of testosterone...then they're a little more aggressive.
This particular pair of bucks seem to be completely unfazed by me.
They're standing under my peach tree down on my front lawn.
Usually, when I open the screen door to the porch, just the sound of the door opening and me stepping out will send anything sporting antlers, sprinting back towards the woods
. The does usually pause to see if there's anything worth running from. If I move quietly and sit down on my chair, they usually will go back to grazing.and ignore me.
That's how these two acted, and I actually stepped down off the porch and came down the steps next to the root cellar.
I'm maybe 12 ft. away from them.
You can see how concerned they are!
Fallow Deer / dama dama. Calke Park, Derbyshire. 27/10/24.
'MAINTAINING AUTHORITY.'
Despite the annual deer rut being all but over, this particular Fallow buck was still pumped with testosterone and making his presence known. He actively guarded a few does and followed them closely wherever they went.
In this image he was watching another Fallow buck who had strayed too close. He called threateningly, to ensure it kept its distance.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
This past month I haven't seen many of the "big boys" moving around out back. They seemed to all be lying pretty low.
That's all changing now. The testosterone is starting to really course through their bodies and the rut is on!
I saw a small group of doe nervously running through the woods about a minute before this handsome 8 pointer appeared on the scene. He was hot on their trail for sure!
Enjoy my art? Visit the Shane Gorski Photography Store and enjoy it in print!
View On Black View it large. It's just good!
Might as well post what I think was my best shot of the Woodward Dream Cruise first right? I’m pretty sure I was the weirdo photographer around Birmingham getting unique angles, laying on my back n’ stomach, looking for unusual things, and just trying not to do what everyone else was doing. “What they hell are you takin’ a picture of,” was the most common comment of the day for me. The owner of this Chevy was flattered I took so many pictures of his pride and joy and offered to pop the hood a couple times, but I kindly said no and said that it was gorgeous as it was.
I knew someone would ask... this is not HDR! I'm on an HDR hiatus to learn a lot of other important stuff.
Featured in Flickr Explore August 19th, 2008! FRONT PAGE BABY!
A whitetail doe with antlers stands in a hardwood forest at sunrise.
A unique highlight of last fall. Notice the deformed antlers still in velvet. Doe's with a hormone (testosterone) imbalance can grow antlers, although they don't always, if ever, come out of velvet. Dr. Grant Woods reports the odds of this being 1 in 10,000. Image taken late October.
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www.whitetaildeerphotography.com
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I have a weakness for men with strong, muscular forearms and expressive, capable hands. Oh my. So much masculinity and testosterone!
for me anyways.
Northern Shrike NSHR* (Lanius excubitor)
TI̸X̱EN 'the Spit" ( Tsawout First Nation )
aka
Saanichton Spit
aka
Cordova Spit
Central Saanich BC
DSCN9437
Although i do sometimes worry about other special birds when these guys are around.
Earlier this same day I saw my 'first for location' Eurasian Skylark (, or Sky Lark or however we are supposed to say it these days)
When we had an overwintr'ing female Mountain Bluebird last year , there was commentary that the Shrikes would take it out.
If it wasn't seen for a while -- then the conclusions were dire.
However, it seemingly to knew to make itself scarce when a NSHR was on the hunt...and survived through until spring just fine.
I never did see it and a NSHR on the Spit , during the same walk.
in the spring of 2017 there was a male MOBL and NSHR at same time on the Spit during one of my walks.
i figured the extra spring testosterone kept the male amped up enough to keep the NSHR at bay.
This would be me, in the flesh.
(Looking back on this just a year and a half later, I look so scrawny--a pubescent turtle. Testosterone has been good to me since then!)
Face to face with a Red Deer Stag – This morning, as I stepped into Bradgate Park, I didn’t know what awaited me — but soon I found myself face to face with a magnificent red deer stag in its natural habitat.
It was a rare and thrilling encounter. By pure chance, the stag approached to within about 5–7 meters, allowing me to capture these close-up portraits.
At this time of year, red deer stags usually roar and clash their antlers in dramatic displays of strength and dominance — the “Deer Rut” is in full swing. Yet this morning was surprisingly calm.
During the rutting season, males are heavily driven by testosterone. They often forget to eat, become restless, and spend their days fighting rivals. For photographers, safety and respect are vital: never stand between a dominant stag and his harem, nor between two rivals who haven’t yet decided the outcome of their contest.
Wildlife photography often requires careful planning, logistics, and tested camera settings. In short, knowing your subject and your equipment is essential when working with such fleeting moments.
Despite the overcast light, I was greeted first by a young male and his lone female companion. Later, as I crossed the River Lin, I spotted two impressive stags — likely just after their morning feeding. This year, with the mild weather, the rut seems less intense; roaring is rare, and many stags appear calmer than usual.
After waiting patiently for Stonechats and Robins, I took a short break — and sometimes, as nature photographers know well, that’s when magic happens. About two hours later, two large males appeared from different directions and met near my path. One moved closer to me, watching the other intently. I quietly took cover behind an old oak fence, and to my surprise, the stag approached and paused just in front of me.
He was aware of my presence, yet remained calm. I didn’t move suddenly; when our eyes met, I pressed the shutter. He then passed by, continuing on his way.
These portraits were taken with patience, respect, and a bit of luck. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed the quiet connection with this majestic creature.
Wishing everyone a peaceful and inspiring weekend.
Field Observation: The stag was fully aware of my presence but showed no aggression. Maintaining a calm posture and avoiding direct eye contact for too long helped build trust. The combination of patience, quiet movement, and natural cover made these close portraits possible.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)
and other 'middle (Third) eye impediments', coming soon.
From the album: 'The Very Late Waning of One's Middle Age'
Down with Chief Suhr!
Sad to say, that by now I suppose that most major cities across America have their own stories of an "officer involved fatal shooting". now San Francisco is on the list. Whats sad, is that Ive seen horrible actions by SF police where its clear that some are too amped up on java and testosterone....and these stories wouldnt ever make it into the news.
Last week a Black man was beaten down by a cop right on Market and the officer turned his body camera off before doing so.
Im a strong believer that something has to change...
time.com/4151979/mario-woods-shooting-san-francisco/
Heres the story of the man who was beaten:
sfist.com/2016/01/14/black_bicyclist_says_he_was_stopped.php
The job I have isn't exactly hard on the hands. The only callouses I have are from playing the guitar. Therefore it's quite satisfying when I have to do something truly dirty, for a change. Had to change the wheel on the car this evening (I forget why... but there was a good reason), so for once I have *man hands*!!! Feel the testosterone! :-)
...of course, I'm all clean and perfumed again now.
View it large, get your palmistry books out, and tell me I'm going to have a long and interesting life. ;-)
I enjoy finding the unusual in nature, and this moose struck me as unusual. As you can see, it has pretty decent body mass and musculature. Could be a yearling or maybe a two year old. What I find unusual, are the little stubs for antlers. By September a bull of this size should have something more than fur covered nubs.
This specimen was hanging around a bull with real antlers and when we first pulled up on them, I figured it was just another bull/cow couple. They were acting quite friendly toward each other.
In an article from the Alaska Fish and Game Department, I found this item: “A cow moose may grow antlers if she produces testosterone, perhaps due to a tumor or an abnormality of the ovaries. Biologists call this as a velericorn moose.”
I don't know if that might be the case here or if it's a bull with underdeveloped antlers.
Either way, it qualifies as unusual in my book.
We found this specimen in northern Wyoming.
The mature buck is working a scrape and has a few fall ruts under his belt. It's a new experience for this curious forkhorn. Getting this close to a mature buck with testosterone raging will get him a poke in the butt-- a learning experience.
Our beautiful world, pass it on.