tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534164785246075286.post5008958835313858073..comments2020-08-31T13:48:38.699-04:00Comments on Animal Trackers of New England: Bolton Bobcat - 2/27/09Janet Pesaturohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03827302925591789818noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534164785246075286.post-75246548538272049252009-03-02T15:41:00.000-05:002009-03-02T15:41:00.000-05:00No, we never determined with any certainty that th...No, we never determined with any certainty that the Wilder basswood was a scratch post. I think there was some antler rubbing on it, with obvious tine marks. There might have been some cat scratching over it, though. By the way, that tree fell over in the ice storm.<BR/><BR/>If I have some time later on, I'll unearth the photos of the basswood with all the marks, and post them alongside photos of the cedar logs that my cats use as scratch posts, so we can all see the similarities and differences.Janet Pesaturohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03827302925591789818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534164785246075286.post-6106058845642194352009-03-02T13:38:00.000-05:002009-03-02T13:38:00.000-05:00I could have been clearer in my description. Yes,...I could have been clearer in my description. Yes, Janet, I most certainly think this tree scar started out as an antler rub, and the only reason I raise the scratching post theory is the very shaggy surface of the wood on a live tree (and of course, it being in the middle of what we have found to be Bobcat Central).<BR/><BR/>Fourteen inches off the ground is a little low; that was the very bottom of the mark, though, and most of the presumed scratching was several inches above that.<BR/><BR/>Regarding that basswood tree, did we ever definitively determine that to be a scratching post? Can't remember.<BR/><BR/>The tree in question here may or may not be used by the Wilder bobcat. I was more convinced in the positive direction until I read that theory about bobcats not scratching the same posts over and over. Perhaps when the NT camera becomes available, we can attempt to solve this mystery photographically.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01333043460544092307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534164785246075286.post-52629153282510568942009-03-02T08:19:00.000-05:002009-03-02T08:19:00.000-05:00Susan,A scratching bobcat alone could not have cau...Susan,<BR/><BR/>A scratching bobcat alone could not have caused that wound, as you probably realize. Looks to me like there was at least antler rubbing to start with. I think that everything you see there could have been caused by antler rubbing, but it's possible that a bobcat came along and scratched the exposed wood, adding to the frayed appearance.<BR/><BR/>The tree seems awfully small (in terms of trunk diameter), though. My pet cats seem to choose larger trees and logs to scratch, maybe because their bodies are too wide to comfortably scratch on smaller trees. So I would expect the even larger bobcat to choose larger trees as well. Also, 14 inches off the ground seems a little low.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, there are few reports of bobcat scratch posts. Why is it so hard to find them?<BR/><BR/>One theory is that bobcats don't return to the same trees and logs to scratch over and over, the way domestic cats do, so that they don't leave much noticeable damage on any given post.<BR/><BR/>But another possibility is that they are attracted to already the damaged wood (bobcat scratch posts that have been found tend to be on softened, rotting wood)of buck rubs, and scratch over them. I've wondered about that on some of the larger diameter rubs we've seen. One example was that basswood tree here at Wilder Farm - there was a lot of fraying, like you see on your photo, and it was in the area where we regularly find bobcat tracks.<BR/><BR/>I'd like to see this tree - perhaps I can accompany you on a dog walk soon.Janet Pesaturohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03827302925591789818noreply@blogger.com