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Tuesday, June 18, 2019

A New Big Bear Dances with Enthusiasm

Bear mating season has finally gotten into full swing. Our late snows and all the cold and wet weather seemed to dampen their enthusiasm for tree-marking and traipsing around looking for mates. Now, every bear tree has many visitors every week.

We have a new big male in the 'hood. He's not quite as big as Tiny but he's dancing his way along the mating trails. His dances are so enthusiastic that they even break off the tops of trees.

He has a magnificent "cowboy walk" as he marks the ground with his paws' scent glands. Bears mark the ground so vociferously that they leave paw-sized impressions in the ground that often lead away from a marking tree for 10 yards or so. The dents in the ground persist over years. They can be hard to see but easy to feel if you get on your hands and knees. Yes, I am crazy enough to do this!

This new big bear looks crazy as he uses a stiff-legged gait and changes his step length to make sure that his paws fall in the impressions. You can see that most obviously at the very end of the video as the bear walks away. See if you think that "cowboy walk" is a good moniker.

I have a short video to share with you showing the amusing dances of this enthusiastic bear.
PS I picked up some more footage of our local bear cubs from a trail cam today. I will post them soon. Cuteness overload!

22 comments:

  1. it#s stunning how cute they can look... althought they are impressing big and mighty guys..

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  2. hari OM
    golly that guy can bop!!! What a handsome dude he is - and yes, definitely cowboy. YAM xx

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  3. Oh, that walk! Reminds me of my how my kids walked when they had a full diaper :) Thanks again for your videos, always look forward to seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural settings.

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  4. Yep! i can see the cowboy walk, bowlegged as a cowboy in those hind quarters. i actual laughed out loud at the first tree, BECAUSE it made me feel happy. he is such a happy go lucky bear. his shiny furs remind me of Big Boy, we almost named Big, Bear...

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  5. That sure is a funny walk. It's no wonder why most of those marking trees are so short and have no foliage on the top.

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  6. What a big happy bear he is!

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  7. He's disco dancing! Yes, cowboy walk is the perfect way to describe him leaving imprints.

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  8. Amazing! He sure did a number on that first tree. Definitely a cowboy walk...or maybe a baby with a full diaper. :)

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  9. OH MY BEARS....what adorable photos. He has some fine moves. I imagine it to Footloose sound track.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  10. He really gets into his dancing routine. Thank you for sharing the photos and videos I really enjoyed them. Hugs

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  11. Ditto to Steph's words!!! I would call him " Nappy", and what a dude to break the branch, guess it has been a long winter and he is ready for the open air.

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  12. That poor tree. He destroyed it pretty good.

    Impressive.

    Have a fabulous day. ♥

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  13. What a gorgeous bear! You're going to have lots of beautiful cubs next year with guys like this fellow and Tiny around to father them!

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  14. See what you mean about the cowboy walk. He is a very enthusiastic 'marker'. You could hear the snapping of the branches. He is a very handsome fellow!

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  15. He sure is one happy fellow out in the woods!

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  16. Oh wow! He is enthusiastic for sure!!!
    hugs
    Mabel & Hilda

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  17. Yuppers, see the cowboy walkie fursure!! That poor tree! Seems in the end, he found one that could withstand his happiness...heheheee
    Kisses,
    Ruby ♥

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  18. Spring is in the air for sure! What a character this guy is!
    Looking forward to seeing the cubs!!

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  19. He is huge, and so strong!!!What a beauty!
    Mr Cowboy Bear !
    love
    tweedles

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  20. He is definitely enthusiastic, and "cowboy walk" is very apt indeed! :)
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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