Bull and female moose in Denali National Park, Alaska

© Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott/Minden Picture

When being in a rut is OK. Alaska moose

After months of eating, roaming, and avoiding predators, Alaska moose spend autumn trying to propagate the species during what is called the rutting season, which runs from late August to early October. Males will mark their scent on trees to attract females and fight other bulls for access to female moose, called cows.

Fights between bulls can sometimes be fatal, and occasionally a bull will miss out on the rut if it loses a fight. Virtually all cows have only one mate per year, but bulls can mate with 25 cows over a 12-month period.