At once frightening and engaging, the bear has captivated the human imagination for centuries. Huge in size, powerful in body and tenacious in nature, bears of all kinds have found their way into the stories and mythology of cultures modern and ancient. In North America, where they inhabit vast stretches of wild territory, bears appear in Native legends under various names, including Big Feet, Black Beast and the Golden King. In the wilderness, bears are agile tree climbers and swift runners, able to keep pace with a horse and outrun a human. Admired as masters of their forest domain, we long to catch sight of them while forgetting their strength and wild nature. In the thrilling images in Bears 2001, world-renowned wildlife photographers have safely captured the majestic spirit of the bear for all to enjoy.
