Tracking Black Bears Using Straddle Trees

Part of the Video Series How to Track a Black Bear

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The facts of bear tracking! Learn about straddle trees, how black bear females use them, and how to determine if the sign is fresh in this free video on bear tracking.

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Tracking Black Bears Using Straddle Trees
We are Nick and Valerie Wisniewski on behalf of expertvillage.com. We are talking about black bear sign and for more information, you can check our website at walnuthilltracking.com. Here in front of us is what we call a bear straddle tree. This particular tree has been straddled many times over its growing life and has taken on a bent form. It’s a black cherry. This marking behavior is done by females in estrus usually. In our area of the northeast, it is in the middle of June. The female will emerge from the wetland which happens to be adjacent to us but behind us and with her vulva she will walk over the tree and deposit scent. When you find this and it’s newly done, you will find the leaves are folded and you will find a lot of mud on there and the female has left scent on there. You will also find hairs coating leaves in the trunk of the tree. This is usually done on a bear trail and we are on one of those bear trails. When this is freshly done, you can find foot falls on either side of the tree as she passes over it and intentionally marking it.

About the Expert

Expert: Valerie Wisniewski has been an outdoor skills teacher for over twenty-five years. Read More