Do Elk Bugle with Regional Accents?
Dr. Jennifer Clarke was miffed when her graduate students couldn’t find published research on elk vocalizations. She decided to investigate the lack of existing research on elk bugling.
This discovery adds to the growing body of research on elk bugling as a form of animal communication. It also confirms something seasoned elk callers and hunters know: elk sound different everywhere.
Bugle with the Best
Beau Brooks, an experienced elk hunter and guide, understands how elk calls vary. He won the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s World Elk Calling Championship and works for a decoy company, Higdon Outdoors.
To Brooks, quality bugling comes down to timing and understanding the circumstance. He changes his calling strategies based on different landscapes, considering factors like sound travel and proximity to the herd.
But do different habitats explain the variety of accents across multiple populations? Clarke’s research suggests otherwise.
Elk from East to West
Clarke became interested in elk vocalizations during a trip to the East Coast. She wondered if dialects had developed due to acoustic adaptation in different habitats.
However, her analysis revealed that the different bugles were not strongly influenced by the environment. The data showed that the Pennsylvania bugle was not significantly different from those in Colorado and Wyoming, despite the differences in habitat.
More Questions Worth Asking
While the acoustic adaptation hypothesis didn’t hold up, Clarke is intrigued by other possible explanations for regional differences in elk bugling. She suggests genetics and learning as potential factors to explore.
As research progresses, this information could prove useful to elk callers and hunters. The discovery that elk bugle in different accents may not be surprising to elk experts, but it has never been scientifically studied until now.
A skilled hunter, dedicated conservationist, and advocate for ethical practices. Respected in the hunting community, he balances human activity with environmental preservation.