Bear scratches

[longstevo]

Hey guys,

I was able to put in my first weekend towards bear this year.  I didn't see any bear, although I did see a group of four elk (three bulls, but two were spikes).  I saw lots of bear crap, and then I saw tree scratches for the first time. 

The first trees I saw were along an old skid road, and I thought it was an old elk rub at first.  It took a closer look to see that either the bull got dis-interested in the tree, or it was a bear.  I decided it was a bear. 

Then the second bear scratch I saw was when I was meandering home and decided to hit a trail that looked interested.  I got way back in the the trail and found myself in an area that just screamed 'BEAR.'  Knowing that I had no backup, I wasn't where I had reported myself to be, and I was back there trying to sound like bear food (I was calling with a calf bleat), it probably wasn't a good idea.  Then the imposing scratches on the tree didn't help. 

But, end state, do bears scratch the trees to mark their territory, or is it more akin to a buck/bull rub?  I've spent my life in the woods, and I've never seen this before.  I must not have known what I was looking at when I saw them before, I guess.

[billythekidrock]

The first image looks like a very old bear scratch to me, but the second one looks more like a small buck rub.

Here is one I found a couple years ago.


And farther up the tree.


I am guessing that it was a boar chasing a cub, or a sow marking a tree that her cub was in.

[boneaddict]

I am thinking more along the lines of a small buck......could be though

Here is a bear tree I found.  It has years worth of scratching in it....

[boneaddict]

.

[boneaddict]

.

[longstevo]

You guys think that a small buck would pick on a tree of that size?   

[billythekidrock]

Small would be relative to species, but yes I think so. Judging from the leaves (salmon berries?) the tree isn't really that big.

[BlackRidge]

Here's one I found yesterday



Was just a quick scout, and I only had my sidearm on me when I found this and 2-3 piles of fresh scat, so I hoofed it back, but looks like potential

[longstevo]

Small would be relative to species, but yes I think so. Judging from the leaves (salmon berries?) the tree isn't really that big.

Well, its not a huge tree but I couldn't wrap both hands around the truck and have my fingers touch.  

On the theory as to why bucks/bulls rub trees, I was under the impression that they'd rub on trees to scrape velvet off the antlers and also make their marks and ect.  Bascially, rubbing trees with the sides and bases of the antlers, not scratching at trunks with the tips of the tines.  

 
But, then again, I'm not a buck.
 

[Gutpile]

Those are some good pics. Especially that Ponderosa Pine with all of the scratches. very cool.

[billythekidrock]

Small would be relative to species, but yes I think so. Judging from the leaves (salmon berries?) the tree isn't really that big.

Well, its not a huge tree but I couldn't wrap both hands around the truck and have my fingers touch.  

On the theory as to why bucks/bulls rub trees, I was under the impression that they'd rub on trees to scrape velvet off the antlers and also make their marks and ect.  Bascially, rubbing trees with the sides and bases of the antlers, not scratching at trunks with the tips of the tines.  

 
But, then again, I'm not a buck.
 

Yea, that is not a very big tree.

If a buck can get his rack around the tree then only the eyeguards and bumps would rub the tree.
I have found alders bigger around than a basketball that had gentle eyeguard gouges and light scratches around the sides from blacktails.

It also depends on the bucks mood. Is he marking territory, testing his muscles or feeling very aggressive.

[quadrafire]

 Rookie bear question.
I found a tree last weekend that had the bark scraped on the sides, with one small peel from about 4 feet up to the ground about 2 inches wide, it was left laying at the bottom, and a large (old) pile of scat at the base.
Is this a marking/territorial tree?? black or griz?
This was in the NE corner

Didn't have a camera

[BlackRidge]

I always thought it was just them stretching their claws/etc... never thought it could be a territorial thing, good question