We studied the characteristics of the marking behavior of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) at rub trees. We recorded the tree-marking (tree-rubbing and bark-scratching) and associated (stomping) behaviors in Japan between 2010 and 2015 using automatic cameras and compared the results with those from previous studies on other bear species. We recorded 22 visits to trees by ≥6 different individuals. During these visits, there were no differences in the frequency or duration between the 3 body orientations of back rubbing, front rubbing, and body-side rubbing, which differs from the findings for other bear species. However, bipedal standing was the most common posture, as observed in other species. We also analyzed the order of tree-marking actions. For a better understanding of the Asiatic black bear's marking behavior, further examples of marking behavior and anatomical studies of secretory glands are needed.
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27 December 2021
Marking behavior of Asiatic black bears at rub trees
Yoh Ogawa,
Kahoko Tochigi,
Tomoko Naganuma,
Bainah S. Dewi,
Shinsuke Koike
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Ursus
Vol. 2021 • No. 32e24
December 2021
Vol. 2021 • No. 32e24
December 2021
Asiatic black bear
body orientation
Japan
marking
scent-marking
stomping
tree-rubbing