Grizzly Bears Enjoy A Back Scratch! | 20 Years of Planet Earth II | BBC Earth
4 Video Views·Sep 5, 2026
Grizzly bears emerge from hibernation and perform an almost dance-like ritual, rubbing against trees to shed the traces of their winter fur.
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Video Summary
AI GeneratedBears in the mountains are racing against time to prepare for winter. After emerging from the snow, they focus on gorging on plants and marmots to gain up to 180 kilos. Between feeding, they engage in social marking by rubbing against specific trees to shed winter coats and communicate their presence to others through scent.
Meadows that only a few weeks ago were buried beneath the snow
are now full of life.
But in these mountains, the good times will not last long.
So the bears must feed as fast as they can.
During the summer months, an adult can put on 180 kilos,
gorging on plants.
And if they can catch them...
a marmot or two.
But just now, the bears have something else on their minds.
It's becoming warmer and the bears are keen to shed their thick winter coats.
Mothers show the cubs what to do about this.
They'll soon catch on.
Some trees, it seems, are particularly suitable for rubbing.
Bears have their favourites and will travel long distances to visit them.
Some itches just have to be scratched.
There are around 30 bears in this one valley.
As they rub, each leaves an individual and recognisable scent.
So the tree soon carries a list of who's around,
which might help individuals to avoid a fight.
To best spread their scent, they really have to put their back into it.
But the summer is short.
Itches satisfactorily scratched.
It's time to eat.
In a couple of months, they will have to return to their dens to hibernate.
So now they must put on as much weight as they can.