The Grizzly Almanac: A Fully Illustrated Natural and Cultural History of America's Great Bear
For some of us, the glimpse of a bear is the ultimate wilderness experience; for others, it is a dreaded horror. These two books attempt to dispel some of our irrational fears and urge us to respect bears and understand their behavior. All but two of the remaining species of bears are on the endangered list, and both authors claim that the key to the bear's future is education. Both books send their message through a combination of lavish color photographs and text. The Grizzly Almanac focuses on the grizzly bear, the largest species and long considered to be the most fierce. Busch, the author of The Wolf Almanac and seven other natural history titles, traces the evolution of the "big bear" from its earliest days, describes its habitat and behavior, and recounts grizzly folklore and tales of grizzly attacks. Maintaining that the grizzly's reputation as a vicious killer is undeserved, he makes recommendations for a more peaceful coexistence with humans. In Bears of the World, Craighead, who lectures on biology and conducts genetic research on grizzly bears at Montana State University, describes eight species of bears and their history, behavior, and habitats. He examines the complex issues surrounding bear conservation and suggests what organizations and individuals might do to ensure a healthy future for bears. The photos of both books will appeal to those who like to browse, but their text is also scholarly enough to be useful to researchers. Recommended wherever there is an interest in bears.DDeborah Emerson, Rochester Regional Lib. Council, Fairport, NYCopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.