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Title: Backcountry Bear Basics: The Definitive Guide to Avoiding Unpleasant Encounters by David Smith, Larry Aumiller ISBN: 0-89886-500-X Publisher: Mountaineers Books Pub. Date: June, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.4 (10 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Most accurate, current, practical information
Comment: As a wilderness guide I have read other books, brochures, and articles about traveling and camping in bear country, but none focuses in on the most relevant, practical, current information like Backcountry Bear Basics. Dave Smith backs up his sometimes unconventional assertions with cogent arguments and scientific references for those who want to know more, and he debunks the myths that have plagued bear literature for decades.
I found the book engaging and entertaining as well as informative. I don't know what the reviewers who called it "dry" were expecting -- juicy blood and guts anecdotes a la Alaskan Bear Tales? Those are fine for scaring each other around the campfire but the purpose of Backcountry Bear Basics is to bring the reader's fears into line with reality and avoid problems for people and bears.
My advice to anyone who will be hiking or camping in bear country without a guide: Read this book and carry it with you -- and follow its advice about securing your food!
Rating: 5
Summary: Enlightening, pragmatic, fun to read
Comment: This daring book challenges conventional wisdom about bears, it's well-documented, it provides safety tips you won't find anywhere else, and it's written with style. Reading Bear Basics is like sitting around the campfire and chatting about bears with a witty outdoorsman who has years of first hand experience with bears, and an encyclopedic knowledge of bear literature.
You casually mention that bears eat anything and everything; John Muir wrote that to bears, everything is food except granite. "John Muir was wrong," says author Dave Smith. "When it comes to natural foods, bears are rather finicky. Out of 1,000 types of plants in a given area, they might only consume 100-250, and each of those will be eaten during a particular season." To reduce the risk of encounting a bear, Smith suggests contacting land management agencies before you take a hike: "Resource management experts can often predict when and where to expect bear because the bruins are so keyed in on seasonal food sources."
X-C skiers generally don't give much thought to bears during the winter, but Smith says, "When I worked as a winterkeeper in Yellowstone, I often saw my first grizzly tracks in March. During the unusually mild winter of 1995-96, winterkeeper Steve Fuller saw grizzly tracks in February. No matter where you're going, you should be aware of bear hibernation patterns.
You ask if bears have good vison or poor vision, and Smith replies, "A 1937 report from Europe noted that brown bears in a zoo could see people at 120 yards, and recognize their handler at 60 yards." He then relates an anecdote by a bear researcher in Colorado who was spotted by a black bear from a distance of 800 yards. He closes by noting that Yellowstone Grizzly Foundation research director Steve French has an "excellent rule of thumb regarding the vison of bears: if you can see a bear, you should assume the bear can see you."
Backcountry Bear Basics is filled with useful information like this. Now if I see a grizzly 150 yards away, I'll assume the bear can see me and I won't move around unless the bear is preoccupied. Although many books discuss bear vision and other topics that are covered in Bear Basics, Smith consistently gives the most thoughtful, pratical information on each subject. In addition, he debunks a lot of myths about bears. This is the ultimate book on bears and bear safety.
Rating: 5
Summary: Backcountry Bear Basics
Comment: I reckon I won't be encountering any bears in my neck of the city anytime soon, but I thought I give this book a read anyway. Well-written, concise and informatives, this book seems to give you all that you need to know. It debunks certain myths such as bears being attracted to menustrating females and the usefulness of climbing a tree (if you can make it there) to avoid an irrate bear. So if you are heading out into bear country and are not an experienced hiker, reading this book would be a good idea.
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Title: Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance (revised edition) by Stephen Herrero ISBN: 158574557X Publisher: The Lyons Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Bear Aware, 2nd by Bill Schneider ISBN: 0762711884 Publisher: Falcon Pub. Date: 01 August, 2001 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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Title: Mark of the Grizzly: True Stories of Recent Bear Attacks and the Hard Lessons Learned by Scott McMillion ISBN: 1560446366 Publisher: Falcon Pub. Date: 01 April, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Don't Get Eaten: The Dangers of Animals That Charge or Attack (Don't Get Eaten) by Dave Smith ISBN: 0898869129 Publisher: Mountaineers Books Pub. Date: May, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Learning to Talk Bear: So Bears Can Listen by Roland Cheek ISBN: 0918981026 Publisher: Skyline Publishing Company Pub. Date: June, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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