Back Scratch Fever (Video)

The tree was marked 9 feet above the ground.

This week on NatureOutside’s Facebook page we are reviewing a series of articles I wrote about trailing the American Black Bear. One of the easiest bear signs to detect is marking sign.

Bears mark trees to communicate with other bears. It is not clear how the communication works. But they leave visual and olfactory information for other bears that pass by.

The bear stands on its hind legs with its back against the trunk of the tree. It often turns its shoulders and bites and claws the tree as well. To leave scent, it shimmies up and down the tree, rubbing its back against the trunk.

Here’s a funny video of bears doing just that. Scientists captured this bear behavior with a game camera and set the bears to music. Thank you to the scientists at the USGS Northern Divide Bear Project! You guys have a great sense of humor.