Bear Sign, Tracks, Scat, Bones and Bears

Out of Interest & Camping Tips

The following collection is from my days of research out in the bush. I'll share some of the tree sign, scratch, tracks, scat, bones and bears I've come across. Use for reference.

Rubbing tree a grizzly uses. I was collecting hair samples.

Grizzly left some track impressions on the ground nearby. Cast photo below.

Black Bear

Grizzly remains I came across. This was a bear I had named 'Brownie'. Photo below.

I knew five grizzlies in a specific area. Two males, three females and their cubs. One of the females I named Goldie was the bear who attacked the fisherman by the Morice River in 2012. It was just bad luck. She had cubs with her and had been startled by the man.

Scratch marks. A territorial issue. Didn't approve of the motorhome being parked where it was.

Bear slept there.

Where tracks are concerned, the difference between a black bear and grizzly is that the grizzly tracks will have claws.

Black bear scat is not always dry. The above was just a comparison between the bears having eaten ants from ant hills. The black bear seemed to consume the small stones and dirt too. The grizzly was more selective. No dirt or stones in its scat.

   

Before setting up your camp, walk a perimeter around your intended spot. You don't want to see fresh carcasses, lots of bones, well used animal trails, or other sign. I will elaborate further on safety in another post. Stay tuned.

Barb Cecil