Wallowing

Post-processing #35 |

Bull bison wallowing in dirt, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, August 5, 2010 (Pentax K10D)

What’s Wallowing All About?¹

For bison, wallowing is when they roll on the dry ground in a “dust bath.” A common explanation for the wallowing behavior relates to relieving skin irritations, whether that is from shedding a winter coat or seeking relief from biting insects. Bison will lie down and roll repeatedly onto their sides to stop insects from biting them. Rolling on the ground also creates a layer of dirt on the body that forms a defensive barrier from ticks and lice. Wallowing is also sometimes seen as a social behavior associated with play, group cohesion, and male-male conflict. During mating season, or rut, sexually mature males will urinate in the wallow before rolling on the ground to advertise their physical condition to other males. Who knew the simple act of rolling in the dirt had so many purposes for bison?

Reference:

1. National Park Service

Note:

Post-processing – Image editing to enhance the photo closer to what the eye “saw.” Images in this series are usually selected within a day or so of being edited and are either posted at the time or scheduled for posting at a later date.