Huffs
The Gallery - Bull Behavior and Vocalizations
•
58s
Huffs are breathy sounds that sound exactly as the name implies—a "huff." Bulls "Huff" by accentuating the sound of air passing over their vocal chords and
through their windpipe as they breathe. Huffs can be delivered individually, or in strings, and can range in volume from very quiet and almost inaudible, to
very loud—depending on the "intensity" of a particular situation.
Rather than making a distinct statement, Huffs seem to be more of a vocal expression of an "idea" or "feeling" experienced by a bull in a particular situation.
Most often made immediately before, while, and immediately after moving, Huffs are nearly always done by bulls seemingly intent on "doing something," or
in anticipation of that activity. That "doing something" can range from interacting with cows to approaching another bull, but most Huffing seems to occur
while bulls are interested in gathering, or maintaining, a harem (NOTE: Huffs are often associated with Glunks). In many cases, Huffs appear to be made
subconsciously by a bull, as opposed to purposefully or deliberately. Also, the volume and/or frequency of the Huffs (or Huffing) appears to reflect the level
of "intensity" or "urgency" the bull feels.
Up Next in The Gallery - Bull Behavior and Vocalizations
-
Glunks
Glunks are guttural "popping" noises made by bulls that sound somewhat similar to their name—glunk. Sometimes heard as a single "note" (glunk) and
sometimes as a double "note" (ga lunk), glunks can be delivered individually or in strings, and can range in volume from very quiet and almost inaudib... -
Early Morning Bulging Bulls
What You'll See:
In this sequence, you'll see a herd bull trying to maintain a harem of cows while scent-checking and "courting" a cow that is likely close to coming into peak estrous. You'll also see, and hear, several other bulls in the immediate area chasing cows, trying to steal the primary ... -
Mid-Morning Alpine Bulls
What You'll See:
In this sequence, you'll see two equally matched bulls desperately trying to keep "their" cows away from one another while at the same time trying to attract other cows to "their" side of the small ridge that separates them.Setting the Stage:
Just before we set up the camera, a...
