Dave Anderson was hiking along a telephone line right-of-way near Long Pond in Lempster, New Hampshire, when he noticed a telephone pole that was completely snapped off and was hanging suspended from its wires. A closer look revealed several other poles had significant structural damage. The site was remote enough that human vandalism seemed unlikely. What in the woods could have caused this?
Answer
This telephone pole was used as a scent post by a black bear.
During the May to July breeding season, black bears use pine trees, or in this case, telephone poles, to create territorial scent posts. The posts are clawed, bitten, and rubbed. In the process, a bear deposits scent and fur on the sticky pine pitch. The pitch fixes the scent and conveys the physical stature and reproductive status of the bear.
For the whole story, read Dave Anderson’s article on Bear Country in the Forest Society Journal. Photo Courtesy Brian Hotz, “Society for the Protection of N.H. Forests”.
This week’s contest winner was Justin Reichman of Morrisville State College