Customer Reviews

The Great American Bear

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I'm the author of Backcountry Bear Basics: The Definitive Guide to Avoiding Unpleasant Encounters, and there aren't many books about bears I can recommend, but this is one of them. It doesn't portray black bears as demons or Disneyland characters. It's 100% accurate and the writing is top notch: very engaging. If you can only buy one book about black bears, this is it. If you can buy two books, add A Shadow In The Forest: Idaho's Black Bears, by two Idaho biologists.

1994's "The Great American Bear" is naturalist Jeff Fair's excellent natural history of the black bear, the most common bear found in the US (outside Alaska). Fair has spent years of research on black bears on his native Minnesota; his acount is wide-ranging and at pains to knock down various misconceptions about bears.

In a nice combination of narrative and superb photography, Fair explores the natural life-cycle of black bears, from its annual cycle of foraging, procreation and winter sleep, to its intermittant interaction with human beings. The account is enhanced by Fair's extended interaction with individual bears and bear family groupings, and his appreciation of their natural habitat. This reviewer cautions that Fair's physical contact with bears should not be replicated by the average reader. Bears are wild animals and likely to be unpredictable under any and all circumstances.

"The Great American Bear" will be of great interest to those readers with an interest in the species. "The Great American Bear" is unfortunately out of print but highly recommended, even in used condition.

This is a wonderful book on the different types of bears in North America: their habits and habitats. The full-color photos are fantastic: you can actually "see" the personality of the different bears as they go about their daily lives. The book is well-organized and well-written and covers all aspects of a bear's life. It also covers the important subject of bear-human interactions and whether they're dangerous (to the human, to the bear). I've read this book twice and intend to read it again -- for information, for pleasure. Highly recommended!

This book was purchased as a gift for my wife. As we live in the woods of northwestern Wisconsin and often have black bears visit us, we have became very curious about them. While never having been threatened by them, we are very cautious when they're around. This book is very informative about all varieties of bear in America. Well written with wonderful photos. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to know more about and better understand these large, oft misunderstood, creatures. We are a fan of Lynn Rogers and the wonderful work he is doing with the North American Bear Center in Ely, MN, which this book is testament to.

This book is EXCELLENT and the photography is MAGNIFICENT!! The story that it tells is one of GREAT educational value for the preservation of these magnificent creatures!!

Granted, this is not the type of book one would normally 'just happen upon'. However, if you are looking specifically for information on "Ursus Americanus", the American Black Bear, this is the one you want. I have been involved in black bear research for over 10 years. This is the most detailed, well photographed, and up to date book I have found. Did I mention it is also enjoyable to read?! The combined effort of the researcher and author resulted in an excellent book. While reading this book, you'll come to learn the behavior, life cycles, lauguage and habitat of the black bear. Take advantage of others' years of experience, and photography; take their knowledge. You'll come away with a complete understanding of black bears that you will not get from any other resource