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Straddle Trees & Bushes

marking_straddle_beech_800x600.jpg One way bears leave scent is by straddling saplings and bushes as they walk, urinating on the vegetation as it passes beneath them.  This is done by bears of both sexes throughout the spring-summer-fall but is done most frequently by mature males in May and June. 

If saplings are in leaf when straddled, the leaves may be creased or torn.  Leaf creases turn brown and are evidence the trail was used after spring green-up.  Trees along regular travel corridors may be repeatedly straddled and marked in this way.  Branches of these straddle trees may be twisted and torn by the repeated straddling, and hairs are often caught in the breaks.  Bears frequently mark straddled trees by 'painting' them with urine as they pass over.

Straddled Saplings: 

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If saplings are in leaf when straddled, the leaves may be creased or torn.  Leaf creases turn brown and are evidence the trail was used since spring green-up.

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Bear hair was caught on this small spruce tree when it was straddled by a bear.
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These bear tracks show how a bear straddled this small hemlock very early in the spring.