Scouting trip today after work...

[troyspinetar]

After work today I took to the gated roads to scout some areas for bear. No critter sightings, but as I was coming back down the hill at mach 5 on the mountain bike I crossed a weird looking "animal path" that wasn't there 1 1-2 hrs previous heading up. I slammed on the brakes and turned around to inspect it. Ended being a track from a small bear.
I think I found an old peel too, but not 100% sure.
Fun ride, good weather, fresh air good for the soul!

[ctwiggs1]

cool pics!

[AKBowman]

Nice pics! Doesn't look like a bear peel to me. If it is it definitely is not a fresh peel, more than likely a few years old. Regardless, it looks like they are there from the tracks! Where there's one there's more.

[troyspinetar]

What do you think it was if its not a bear peel? It was about 4' up from the base of the tree. Honestly I don't know if I have ever identified a peel.
Thanks.

[KenPCPilot]

Rain came at right time.  This should push the blackberries to get fat and juicy.  9 days till bear season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[troyspinetar]

Rain came at right time.  This should push the blackberries to get fat and juicy.  9 days till bear season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm excited!

[steeliedrew]

Rain came at right time.  This should push the blackberries to get fat and juicy.  9 days till bear season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hoping that's the case with the berries in my spot as well!

[heronblu]

Doesn't look like a bear peel to me either. Look for tooth and claw marks. If there is a fallen tree near the base of that one it might be what caused the scar. Unmistakable prints though!

[AKBowman]

What do you think it was if its not a bear peel? It was about 4' up from the base of the tree. Honestly I don't know if I have ever identified a peel.
Thanks.

Many times with bear peels the bark will still be attached at the top and peeled site and torn upwards from down at the base. Most are also almost exclusively on cedar trees and that there was a spruce. When you get into an area with one peel there are usually a high number of peels in the area. Not likely to find one tree peeled with no other peels anywhere else around. Regardless there's at least a few bears around your area. Hope you get one or two!

[troyspinetar]

Thanks for the info!