This small clearing in the forest is frequented by this particular black bear, and the small white birch that you see just in front of the bear is a marking tree, used by bears to communicate with one another. Two well traveled animal trails intersect at thsi clearing. While traveling in their home territories, bears tend to follow well-worn trails that may have existed for generations of bears, and they often represent the most practical way to get from one place in the forest to another. Once a bear trail has been established, it seems that all traveling bears will follow it, even stepping in the footprints of those who went before them.