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Summary: Most accurate, current, practical information
Review: 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: 
Summary: Good information, a little dry; but a fast, smooth read.
Review: Bear Basics gives you some of the same information that you've read from other sources, but it breaks it down in simple terms. The writing is clear, concise; Dave Smith knows bears. He presents the information in a totally unbiased manner. The book is a smooth, fast read. If you have fears, it helps to alleviate them. Recommended to anyone who is entering bear country.
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Summary: absolute best book on bears
Review: Careful readers will notice important differences between Backcountry Bear Basics, Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, Bear Aware, and Safe Travel in Bear Country. When you compare the books topic-by-topic (human sexual activity attracts bears, bears have poor vision, never make eye contact with a bear, bears eat anything and everything, etc.) Bear Basics is the most accurate, practical, up-to-date book. Biologist Stephen Herrero's classic Bear Attacks was published in 1985; coverage of topics like pepper-spray defense is out-dated. Compared to Bear Attacks or Bear Basics, Bear Aware and Safe Travel In Bear Country are cliché-laden lightweights. Neither book includes substantive quotes from bear experts, or reference notes. Consider the cliché that you should beware of sows with cubs. Bear Aware states, "female bears fiercely defend their young," and Safe Travel in Bear Country states, "nothing prompts a full-clown charge by a bear more quickly than the bawl and commotion of a cub." In Bear Basics, biologist Lynn Rogers states, "Unlike grizzly bear mothers, black bear mothers seldom attack people in defense of cubs . . . the ferocity of mother black bears is one of the biggest misconceptions about this species." Bear Basics is thought provoking and well documented. Women should read Bear Basics just for the lengthy chapter that debunks the myth bears are attracted to menstrual odors. No other book discusses the ethics of wearing bear bells and making lots of noise in grizzly country. No other book about bears comes close to giving you the quality information Bear Basics provides about bear behavior. Bear Aware says "If you see a bear at close range . . . try to identify the bear as a black bear or grizzly. Both are dangerous, but grizzlies are usually more ill-tempered." Bear Basics explains that since "black bears and grizzly bears walked along different evolutionary paths the two species often have a different response to what biologists call the 'fight' or 'flight' question: How do you respond to a threatening situation? Do you fight, or do you take flight?" Bear Basics provided a sound biological explanation for grizzly and black bear behavior during surprise encounters; it changed my preconception about grizzlies being the ill-tempered grumps of the animal kingdom. What if you're charged by a grizzly? Bear Basics has the best information on using pepper spray or firearms. If you're forced to play dead, Bear Attacks recommends "the fetal position" adding that "Lying flat on the ground, face down, with your hands locked behind your neck is another possibility." Bear Aware and Safe Travel in Bear Country recommend curling up in the fetal position, but don't discuss playing dead by lying flat on the ground-which is the technique Herrero advocates in several recent magazine articles and the 1997 Discovery program "Bear Attacks." Bear Basics is the only book that gives your up-to-date facts on how to play dead: "It's best to lie face down . . ." Bear Basics consistently provides better safety advice than the other books. Bear Attacks said, "Photographers who specialize in grizzlies know that the safest way to approach for a picture is to let the bear sense them when they are still far away before beginning a slow, deliberate, and obvious approach." Herrero added, "I personally do not like to photograph grizzlies-not only because of the danger but also because to get photographs one has to harass the bear." He recommends staying back 1,000 feet--advice many photographers ignore as they slowly approach grizzlies. Bear Basics warns that you should never approach a grizzly because eventually you'll enter its personal space and "force it into a fight or flight mode." Slowly walking toward a grizzly until it has to fight or flee is suicidal, but unless a photographer read Bear Basics, there's no way he'd understand the nature of the risk. On the topic of pepper spray, Bear Aware claims "more than 60 people have escaped encounters uninjured by turning away a charging bear with pepper spray." Not according to facts and figures from a 1995 study on pepper spray by Herrero. You'll find those facts and figures in Bear Basics. You won't find them in Bear Attacks, (1985) where Herrero wrote, "The effectiveness of capsaicin has been tested on caged and free-ranging black bears, on caged grizzly bears, but not on free-ranging grizzlies. Whether capsaicin would repel a bear, such as a mother grizzly, that was highly motivated to attack has not been tested . . . among the commercially available forms of chemical sprays containing capsaicin, 'Phaser' is the most consistent repellent. It also has the most reliable and effective spray system. "Halt' and 'Dog Shield' are proven repellents but they have less range." Dog Shield? It's been years since anyone hiking in Yellowstone or Banff carried a little can of pepper spray meant for dogs to protect themselves from grizzly bears. This information is way outdated. Bear Basics provides a thorough and up-to-date discussion about pepper-spray defense. Reading Bear Attacks or Safe Travel in Bear Country is about as much fun as reading a master's thesis on hemorrhoids. Biologist Larry Aumiller's back-cover endorsement for Bear Basics says it's "entertaining and accurate." Bear Basics might not hold the attention of people who read comic books during commercial breaks on Oprah, but it's funny in a subtle way. Bottom line on bear safety books? Don't waste your money on Bear Aware or Safe Travel in Bear Country. You can get the same basic information (and misinformation) free at any National Park website. If you spend much time outdoors in bear country, buy Bear Basics and Bear Attacks. The critiques I've made about Bear Attacks are among its few faults; it's a great book. If you have to settle for one book, Backcountry Bear Basics is the best.
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Summary: Bear Basics: Entertaining and educational
Review: Dave Smith is an excellent writer! His style of writing is educational, yet entertaining. He is down to earth, yet takes his research quite seriously. He does an excellent job of discussing issues that a number of guides stress or disagree with, such as noise making, bear cans, menstration and camping, and bear spray. His discussion on biology and evolution of the grizzly and black bear is for the individual who wants to gain an understanding of bears, yet does not want to know the technical facts that only a specialist would want to know.
An excellent read for those who are interested in learning about bears, their behavior, and how to minimize and avoid attacks. Short, sweet, and entertaining!
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Summary: Backcountry Bear Basics
Review: I have lived in Yellowstone NP for 25 years. Dave Smith's book , in my opinion, is the backcontry bear bible. Dave's knowlege and research on the subject is outstanding. I insist that my employees are familiar with this book before heading out for a back country experience. Well researched and informative. A must read for any serious backcountry camper.
Rating:
Summary: Backcountry Bear Basics
Review: I have lived in Yellowstone NP for 25 years. Dave Smith's book , in my opinion, is the backcontry bear bible. Dave's knowlege and research on the subject is outstanding. I insist that my employees are familiar with this book before heading out for a back country experience. Well researched and informative. A must read for any serious backcountry camper.
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Summary: Backcountry Bear Basics
Review: 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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Summary: Backcountry Bear Basics
Review: 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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Summary: BEAR BASICS
Review: Just finished this book but took me 3 weeks cuz it didn't hold my attention. Bear Basics has some decent info in it but the author challenges every controversial point without following through and proving his case. Example, Are bears really unpredictable or are we just to ignorant to be able to predict them? Several times, he goes off the subject to gripe. Example "I'd hike in a Scottish kilt and cowboy boots before I wore bear bells or walked with a group of people that talked nonstop for 8 hours straight." The only other bear book I read was Bear Aware and I think it wins - its a quick to read book and has a lot of facts without a political or personal agenda. It also explains how to use pepper spray.
Rating: 
Summary: Bear Basics challenges conventional wisdom about bears.
Review: The only competition for Bear Basics is Stephen Herrero's classic Bear Attacks, which says (p.87) "what I would do if confronted at close range by a charging grizzly bear would be to stand my ground or slowly back away." If you want straightforward advice on what to do when facing a charging bear, read Bear Basics. If you know why so many writers and agencies like the National Park Servie dropped "stand your ground" and adopted "slowly back away," please contact me. My all- purpose rule for charging grizzlies or black bears sauntering into your camp is, "stand your ground."
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