Tree marking.

Marking trees! Black bears of all ages and both sexes rub their scent on marking trees, including wooden sign posts and utility poles, but the majority of this marking is by mature males during the mating season (May and June in Minnesota). They rub their shoulders, neck and crown and may also claw and bite the tree. Claw marks are usually superficial, but incisor bites are deep enough that pieces of bark and wood are sometimes pulled out. Bites leave nearly horizontal marks that look like a dot and a dash where the upper and lower canine teeth came together.

 

Marking trees are generally along trails. Favorite trees have little ground vegetation to prevent a bear from approaching them, and they often lean slightly toward the trail.

 

Done