Grizzly Bears in the Wild Find a Random Stick in the Field — And Flip Out

It’s all well and well living on the wide and magnificent tundra of northern Canada – unless you have an itch to scratch. And grizzly bears in the wild are all too familiar with this situation.

Because of the tundra’s unique ecology, trees are few and far between, and without tree trunks, bears can’t enjoy their favorite bear hobby of scratching their backs against rough tree bark.

When a pair of grizzlies, most likely a mother and her nearly full-grown youngster, discovered a strange metal pole jutting up out of the ground, they pounced.

Fortunately, a wildlife photographer from Switzerland, Marcel Gross, was traveling through the Yukon Territory in late summer when he came across the bears and was able to record their delight.

Gross told The Dodo, “I was observing these bears for at least an hour.” “They began to approach the road, and I re-entered my vehicle. One of the bears suddenly gets up on his hind legs.”

The enormous stick was most likely placed beside the road to aid in the measurement of snowfall, but it definitely had a more significant purpose for these bears.

“I was completely taken aback,” Gross recalled.

The bears had plainly given up on rubbing their backs on the stick for the mere joy of it. Gross stood there for approximately two hours, watching the bears’ antics before they kept walking out into the distance.

The wild grizzlies were only scratching an itch, but they had a significant influence on Gross, who is a wildlife enthusiast.

Gross stated, “This has undoubtedly been the best and most unforgettable experience of my entire amazing 403-day adventure.”