Bear Bed - 2011

[billythekidrock]

My trail cam checks were pretty much a bust today with only a raccoon, a couple doe and a bobcat for the week. Then to top it all off after checking the first cam I slipped off a beaver dam and ended up over my waist in a cold creek with 4 more cameras to check.
After checking the rest of the cameras I continued on and while looking for new camera locations as well as checking old locations, I found another bear bed. This one belongs to a solitary bear.

Bed


There were about 4 piles right here and they seemed to be a couple days old. As I scouted the nearby grassy area I found 4 more piles that were baked in the sun.



As evident in the scat, the bear had been feeding on nearby grass.





About 100 yards away from the grass feeding area I found this track on a path that took me through a little swamp full of skunk cabbage but only a couple of them were dug up.



Then maybe 100 yards away or so from there I found a few peeled trees. There was also a ton of torn cascara trees that I will try to keep track of this summer/fall.

[jason4429]

Did you put up a camera in that area?It looks like you found plenty of sign.

[billythekidrock]

I did put one up there....but mostly for deer. I have had one here in the past and today I found a nice pile of bear crap only feet from my post.
 
 

[windygorge]

just to check.  isn't that tree that has been stripped, been done by a porcupine.  not sure, but it looks like it to me.  the teeth marks are not that of a bear, but of a porcupine.........right??

[steelhead13]

I would say that isn't a bear tearing up that tree. Usually when a bear tears up a tree there will be definate claw marks above the bark peeled as well as around the sides.  But the rest of the pics look like pretty damn good bear sign. 

[True Sportsman]

I'll chime in. That definitely looks like bear. Looks a little different, but definitely a bear. Porcupines love small trees and the upper limbs of small trees. I think you are right on BillythekidRock!

The sap flow has been late this year, and I have yet to see my first fresh bear peel of the year. Any day now, I am sure.

[saylean]

cool pics as always Billy.

[billythekidrock]

just to check.  isn't that tree that has been stripped, been done by a porcupine.  not sure, but it looks like it to me.  the teeth marks are not that of a bear, but of a porcupine.........right??

I would say that isn't a bear tearing up that tree. Usually when a bear tears up a tree there will be definate claw marks above the bark peeled as well as around the sides.  But the rest of the pics look like pretty damn good bear sign.

There are not always definite claw marks, but there is almost always large chunks or even slats of bark peeled away as evident on the left side of the tree in the pic in question. Porkies only leave quarter-sized pieces of bark.
 
The peeling was definitely done by a bear. The eating of the cambium was very likely done by both the bear and a porkie. This is not uncommon and I have posted pics of it before.
 
Here is another pic of the tree posted above. Notice the pile of bear crap in the lower right corner.
 
 

 

[huntlakewood]

I hope you get pics of the bear

[bobcat]

I'll chime in. That definitely looks like bear. Looks a little different, but definitely a bear. Porcupines love small trees and the upper limbs of small trees. I think you are right on BillythekidRock!

The sap flow has been late this year, and I have yet to see my first fresh bear peel of the year. Any day now, I am sure.

 
Really? I've been seeing lots of freshly peeled trees for well over a month now.

[True Sportsman]

I'll chime in. That definitely looks like bear. Looks a little different, but definitely a bear. Porcupines love small trees and the upper limbs of small trees. I think you are right on BillythekidRock!

The sap flow has been late this year, and I have yet to see my first fresh bear peel of the year. Any day now, I am sure.

 
Really? I've been seeing lots of freshly peeled trees for well over a month now.

I know. I can't believe it either...Ive been working around Mason County the last couple months. Not many bears around or sign in the areas Ive been. Some old peels in places, but none fresh yet.

If I was working down in Lewis or Skamania Counties, I wouldve seen peels a long time ago.

[Ripper]

Cool pics Billy