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Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

Posted September 08, 2007 3:57 PM

From BBC News | Science/Nature | UK Edition:

The mystery behind the tree rubbing antics of North America's grizzly bears may at last have been solved. A few select trees are used by grizzlies to perform strange rubbing rituals, but for years the reasons for this behaviour have baffled ecologists. Now, a study suggests that male grizzlies seeking mates are marking the trees to communicate with other males - possibly to dodge deadly bear battles. The work will be presented next week at a British Ecological Society meeting. Owen Nevin, a behavioural ecologist at Cumbria University, UK, who carried out the study, said: "A handful of trees ('rub trees') are used for years by different grizzlies who each approach the trees in exactly the same way.

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#1

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/09/2007 3:16 AM

I have rubbed on this thread...so it's mine ok.

Prrrrrrrr

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#2
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Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/09/2007 3:34 AM

I have to say after so long, "NO DUH!!!" How much grant money does it take to come up with the obvious!

Del, you should get one of those "Binaca" bottles of sent, like Cat on Red Dwarf. Then, you could go around spraying, "This is mine. That's mine. This other thing is mine, except that part."

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#3

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/09/2007 8:14 AM

I have a doberman pinscher that rubs his face on my sofa. Can I get some grant money so I can tell the world-HE IS MARKING HIS TERRITORY!!!

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#5
In reply to #3

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/09/2007 9:54 AM

OK . . so, to improve my romance chances with my wife, I take away from all this:

I need to approach in the same way each time, in the foot steps of the mailman that just left my house, urinating as I walk, rub my back up against her, then rub James' doberman's face on the sofa . . . . hmmm . . . this is where I get mixed up.

Can I get grant money to find out the affect that nail filing nosies have on male performance during certain romantic moments? Not to mention "Move a little, I can't see the TV".

I think I'll just wander off and go inflate my tree now for a little quality time alone.

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#6
In reply to #5

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/09/2007 10:00 AM

Maybe a re-think is required....Infatable trees...claw sharpening...?

Those inflatable tree shares you sold me..I want my money back... .

Del

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#7
In reply to #6

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/09/2007 10:04 AM

Smell them . . . they are YOURS pal and not returnable. Yukkkkk.

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#9
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Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/10/2007 4:11 AM

How much ya wanna bet that the reason why the tree rubbing avoids fights is due to how far the smell goes up the tree.

"Hey! There's been another bear here! Hmm, smell goes up over my head! Better not mess with that big SOB!"

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#10
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Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/10/2007 4:13 AM

SOB ? Son of a Bear? Bloody acronyms again....

(PS. I've shelved work on the Giraffe cannon.... That's still making me laugh...)

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#11
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Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/10/2007 4:16 AM

Glad to be of service!

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#8
In reply to #3

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/10/2007 3:13 AM

Don't be daft! He's just rubbing off the dribble.

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#4

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/09/2007 9:43 AM

Maybe they just need glasses, or therapy. Could be a market for inflatable trees in bear-land ya know.

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#12

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/10/2007 8:58 AM

You all deserve a week holiday in Zimbabwe. No bears, no beers, no petrol, no food, no common sense, no nothing.

Get out of Zimbabwe cards can be obtained for 1 000 000 Zim Dollar (few cent).

Deposit account number : xxxxxxxxxxxx

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#13
In reply to #12

Re: Grizzly Tree Rub Secrets Revealed

09/10/2007 7:24 PM

Or Zimbab-B, as an alternate plan.

Can't beat my apartment in Mogadishu where when you turn on the kitchen tap, there is a vacuum noise as it sucks in the spider webbing over the sink trying to earn a living.

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