Claw marks on Alder trees

[Duckslayer89]

Last summer/fall in all my bear hunting areas I was noticing patches of alder trees that had scratches in them that resembled claw marks. I was noticing they were everywhere and one particular skunk cabbage patch had every single tree scratched. Are these from bear or cougar and has anyone else seen lots of this?

[jay.sharkbait]

Like this?

[Duckslayer89]

Similar but deeper. I kept telling myself that it was from elk antlers because I hadn't seen any bears but it doesn't seem like antlers would make those marks they make more of a rub.

[RadSav]

Looks a lot like porky

[Duckslayer89]

Looks a lot like porky

Explain porky

[RadSav]

porky is short for porcupine when a guy is feeling linguistically challenged

[Duckslayer89]

porky is short for porcupine when a guy is feeling linguistically challenged

Lol roger. I never thought of that you are probably right thanks!

[RadSav]

Bear do mark a lot of alder and aspen.  Can be very deep.  But they are usually marked closer to shoulder or eye level.  Within 3' off the ground and often with just two claws it's usually porky testing for sugary sap in spring.

[Duckslayer89]

Bear do mark a lot of alder and aspen.  Can be very deep.  But they are usually marked closer to shoulder or eye level.  Within 3' off the ground and often with just two claws it's usually porky testing for sugary sap in spring.

Most all of the markings I saw were at eye level for a bear. Now I'm wondering how you can tell a bear peel from a porky peel. This pic said it was porky peel

[RadSav]

Now I'm wondering how you can tell a bear peel from a porky peel. This pic said it was porky peel

Looks like a porky peel to me!

[Stump]

Porky will strip the top part of a tree not the bottom. I used to trap porky for a few timber company's back some years ago. Mean things when they are in a trap.

[RadSav]

Porky will strip the top part of a tree not the bottom. I used to trap porky for a few timber company's back some years ago. Mean things when they are in a trap.

That's interesting.  I've seen a couple working young trees at night in May.  Both were working the base of the tree.  Though we did have a cherry tree growing up that the little buggers worked while sitting on the first heavy branches.  Killed a darn good cherry producer!

[billythekidrock]

Bear do mark a lot of alder and aspen.  Can be very deep.  But they are usually marked closer to shoulder or eye level.  Within 3' off the ground and often with just two claws it's usually porky testing for sugary sap in spring.

Most all of the markings I saw were at eye level for a bear. Now I'm wondering how you can tell a bear peel from a porky peel. This pic said it was porky peel

This is a bear peel.

[billythekidrock]

Bear peels vs porcupine peels.
http://www.callingbears.com/peels.html

[Duckslayer89]

Bear peels vs porcupine peels.
http://www.callingbears.com/peels.html

That was an interesting read, thanks for the help! There's more to this than I thought

[RadSav]

I guess the bark strips should have tipped me off.  Yep, looks like I was wrong.  Though I still know porkies strip low as well as high.  Unless that was some very small and thick haired bear I was watching.  It was back in my tequila drinking days so...

[Humptulips]

Similar but deeper. I kept telling myself that it was from elk antlers because I hadn't seen any bears but it doesn't seem like antlers would make those marks they make more of a rub.

This is from elk. Quite a few years ago I saw fresh marks exactly like this this time of year. No doubt because there were elk tracks in the snow where they had rubbed. Seen it since a number of times. Before that I didn't realize they rubbed late. I believe they are rubbing close to their skull. I believe this type rubbing accelerates as they near drop time.

[branches]

If anybody want's to see claw marks on alder trees just go to Long Island. They are everyplace.

[billythekidrock]

Similar but deeper. I kept telling myself that it was from elk antlers because I hadn't seen any bears but it doesn't seem like antlers would make those marks they make more of a rub.

This is from elk. Quite a few years ago I saw fresh marks exactly like this this time of year. No doubt because there were elk tracks in the snow where they had rubbed. Seen it since a number of times. Before that I didn't realize they rubbed late. I believe they are rubbing close to their skull. I believe this type rubbing accelerates as they near drop time.

 

[saylean]

Bear peels vs porcupine peels.
http://www.callingbears.com/peels.html

Billy knows his stuff. He had posted some great info on here previously about porcupine peels vs bear