Making Scents of Bears’ Exceptional Sense of Smell

Bears have among the most powerful olfaction in the entire animal kingdom, and can detect scents from miles away, especially downwind. Inhale some insights into bears’ impressive sense of smell and discover how these large omnivores rely on their strong noses to orient themselves within the world. Whether for communication, feeding, navigation or mating, so many aspects of bears’ daily lives revolve around their keen understanding of the scents in their surrounding environment. Find out how bears' unique nasal physiology enables them to discern even the most subtle odors and fragrances. Expedition Leader Eddy Savage will share his firsthand observations from nearly a decade of viewing grizzly bears and collaborating with scent communication researchers in British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. Eddy will also explain how bears use their excellent olfactory abilities to interpret different aromas, plus some reasons why bears mark and rub their scent onto trees. You will come away with a deeper appreciation of the importance of scent in a bear’s life.


Originally presented August 4, 2021

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