Reindeer crossing the Susitna River during the autumn rut, Alaska, USA

© Tim Plowden/Alam

Time to make an impression. Reindeer rutting season, Alaska

It’s that time of year when Alaskan reindeer are beginning to feel a little frisky. From late September until early November, males will be strutting their stuff, locking antlers with one another, and competing for the attention of females. Successful males will mate with between 15 and 20 females a season. After the rutting season, males will shed their antlers while females keep theirs until spring. In today’s photo we’re looking at some reindeer, known as caribou here in the US state of Alaska, crossing the Susitna River.