Synopses & Reviews
Most people conjure up fearful images of mammoth-sized grizzlies with gaping mouths full of razor sharp teeth when they think of bears, but wilderness aficionado Howard Smith and internationally acclaimed photographer Michael H. Francis show another side to these massive bruins.
In the Company of Wild Bears melds fascinating real-life human-bear encounters with never before seen world-class photography to create a unique experience most readers have only dreamed about. Instead of scaring people out of the forest,
In the Company of Wild Bears invites them in to take a closer look at the lives of these incredible beasts.
Join Smith as he takes a Beaver floatplane to the majestic mountains of Alaska to mingle with Alaskan brown bears, treks the Teton Wilderness to get an up-close and personal glimpse of grizzlies, and almost gets bowled over by a mother black bear and cub who crash, bam, and boom through the brambles on the Appalachian Trailliterally missing him by inches. Smiths deeply descriptive writing makes you feel like youre right there on the trail experiencing everything firsthand as he does.
Also included are numerous informational sidebars on bear protection, hibernation, understanding bear language, sharing living spaces with bears, and more. And with the continued threat of grizzlies being an endangered species, a new light is cast on the important value of bears in the wilderness. Each chance encounter will leave your mind racing, your heart pounding, and your feet itching to get out into the woods on your own.
Review
"Smith delivers a loving tribute to the
Ursidae family that will delight animal enthusiasts and could even make a convert of famed (and faux) bear-hater Stephen Colbert. Supported on almost every page by Francis's gorgeous photos, the book more than meets Smith's goal of providing an account that is 'representative of what it means to walk in bear country.'"—
Publishers Weekly "Smith's fascination with and respect for this great animal make for an instructive and fun book, lavishly illustrated by wildlife photographer Francis."--
Booklist "Adrenaline flows freely--both for Howard Smith in the company of wild bears and for the reader in his armchair at home. This book will whet your appetite for more titles by this author."—Linda Hutton, Editor, Hutton Publications "When bears are healthy, the world is healthy, and our task is to see to it that they can live well. Howard Smith's lucid introduction to North America's bears helps us understand that essential work, and it belongs in every planetary caretaker's library."—Gregory McNamee, author of Blue Mountains Far Away: Journeys Into the American Wilderness and In the Presence of Wolves
In the Company of Wild Bears: A Celebration of Backcountry Grizzlies and Black Bears pairs photographer Michael H. Francis' black and white photos of bears in the field with a blend of writer Howard Smith's bear encounters paired with sidebars of bear facts and safety tips. What makes this different from the usual bear guide--many laden with color photos and made for coffee table display --already on the market is an attention to understanding the bear's habitat and psyche: chapters focus on first-person encounters which provide such insights and understanding, and are designed to reduce reader fears about bear activities and presence.—Diane C. Donovan, California Bookwatch
Review
Smith (
Yellowstone Memories) delivers a loving tribute to the
Ursidae family that will delight animal enthusiasts and could even make a convert of famed (and faux) bear-hater Stephen Colbert. Smith combines accounts of his true-life encounters with bears across North America, from Alaska's Talkeetna Mountains to the Grand Teton and Shenandoah National Parks, with no-nonsense sidebars that dispense useful information for people interested in seeing bears firsthand. Supported on almost every page by Francis's gorgeous photos, the book more than meets Smith's goal of providing an account that is "representative of what it means to walk in bear country." One of the most entertaining adventures involves an exploration of Wyoming's Pilgrim Creek near Grand Teton National Park, which also features Smith's surprisingly rugged West Highland terrier. Smith's explorations also serve to counter what he calls "sensational" stories about bear maulings so he can encourage people to safely explore the backcountry. The book is best at showing that bears are "a metaphor for simply enjoying the sparkling wonder of wildness."—
Publishers Weekly"When bears are healthy, the world is healthy, and our task is to see to it that they--and every other voyager on this grand ark--can live well. Howard Smith's lucid introduction to North America's bears helps us understand that essential work, and it belongs in every planetary caretaker's library."—Gregory McNamee, author of Blue Mountains Far Away: Journeys Into the American Wilderness and In the Presence of Wolves
“If you are not yet acquainted with Smiths books, youre in for a literary treat. He is a rare writer who can grab the reader by the throat and haul him along for a true wilderness adventure. Smiths prose is technically accurate, while his style is fast-moving and concise. The reader is able to picture, understand, and become a part of the scene Smith describes. Photos by Michael H. Francis add to this celebration of bears. Adrenaline flows freely--both for Howard Smith in the company of wild bears and for the reader in his armchair at home. This book will whet your appetite for more titles by this author.”—Linda Hutton, Editor, Hutton Publications
"Bears are a powerful icon in the collective consciousness of Americans, conjuring up images of love-worn stuffed animals, cartoon characters, the solemn spokesbear who reminds us that only we can prevent forest fires, as well as images gleaned from movies, television, and books. Smith's obsession is a bit beyond most people's interest in wildlife. He admits that the adrenaline rush that comes with sighting a bear is almost addicting, referring to the sensation as a "ramping up" of the senses. He has had extensive experience hiking on backcountry wildlife trails, although his accounts of his travels in Alaska, Canada, and various other wilderness outposts lack a precise time frame. Smith shares a wealth of information about bears, including such tips as "Play dead if touched by a grizzly. Fight back if touched by a black bear." Although most readers will never have to put such nuggets of wisdom to the test, Smith's fascination with and respect for this great animal make for an instructive and fun book, lavishly illustrated by wildlife photographer Francis."—Booklist
Synopsis
Most people conjure up fearful images of mammoth-sized grizzlies with razor-sharp teeth when they think of bears, but
In the Company of Wild Bears shows another side to these massive bruins. It melds fascinating real-life humanbear encounters with world-class photography to create a unique experience most readers have only dreamed of. Instead of scaring people out of the woods,
In the Company of Wild Bears invites them in to take a closer look at the lives of these incredible beasts.
Synopsis
Real-life human-bear encounters with black bears, grizzlies, and Alaskan brown bears.
Synopsis
Real-life human-bear encounters with black bears, grizzlies, and Alaskan brown bears.
About the Author
Howard Smith is an inveterate wilderness junkie with a passion for anything outdoors, especially hiking, rafting and backpacking. His book, Mountain Harmonies: Walking the Western Wildernesses, chronicles his love of wild lands. He has also written 250 journal articles and six professional texts. Michael H. Francis is an internationally renowned wildlife photographer with thirty single-photographer books to his credit. His work has been published by the National Geographic Society, The Audubon Society, The National Wildlife Federation and Field & Stream, Outdoor Life and Sports Afield magazines, among many others.
Table of Contents
Contents AcknowledgmentsForewordIntroduction
1
Return to Primal Ways
2
Walking with Alaskas Great Bear
3
Baileys Bodacious Teton Adventure
4
Ears Back; Cub at Side
5
Oso Canella
6
Searching for Grizzlies in the Canadian Rockies
7
Wheres Bear?
8
Pass it On
9
The Magic of Wildness
10
Bears, Humans, and the Spirit of Place