A compilation of trail-cam footage from Canada’s Yukon Territory shows grizzly bears expressing specific interest in the same tree at various points in 2022.
The accompanying footage, shared Wednesday by Yukon Wildlife Cams, also shows moose on the same remote trail, including one that appears suspicious about the camera.
But on three occasions a grizzly bear is seen using the tree as a scratching post, which is how bears deposit their scents to communicate with other bears.
The most rigorous scratch occurs at 1:30, involving a large grizzly bear that spends several seconds executing its technique: standing on hind legs, clutching a branch for leverage, and rubbing deeply against the trunk.
The bear even sticks its tongue out at times, as if enjoying a sensation that anyone who loves a thorough back scratch can appreciate.
Yukon Wildlife Cams showcases the region’s wildlife with footage captured from several trail-cam locations.
One of our favorite clips involves a massive grizzly bear scent-marking a tree before charging in slow motion toward the camera, lending a unique perspective of what a grizzly bear charge in a person’s direction might look like.