Among the lush temperate rainforests of Juneau, Alaska, a female black bear rises upright to rub her back and shoulders against the branches of a young spruce. The abrasive needles help remove shedding winter fur and stimulate the skin as she transitions out of hibernation. At the same time, scent glands along her shoulders deposit chemical cues that convey identity, reproductive status, and recent movements. Other bears investigating these marks use the information to assess dominance, avoid conflict, or locate potential mates. In the dense forest of Southeast Alaska, these silent chemical signals help structure the social lives of an otherwise solitary species.