Bear Aware: Hiking and Camping in Bear Country

Rating:
Summary: Perfect Companion for any excursion into Bear Country
Review: "Bear Aware' does all the right things. It dispells alot of myths about bears (yes, they can swim; no, they're not always slow and can outrun a human if motivated).It notes the differences between Black and Grizzly - the 2 species found in North America, but cautions you to treat both as potentially dangerous. It provides lots of useful guidelines to minimize your chances of encountering bears - from travelling on the trail to selecting a campsite and storing food. It reminds us that for all our knowledge, bears are unpredictable and there is no such thing as 100% bear safe (unless your watching the Discovery Channel special from your futon at home or can fly).

The 1st 60 pages are devoted to prevention, the 1st priority, according to the author. The 2nd would be protection. Firemarms, noise, aggression and pepper spray are all covered. Encountering a bear is discussed next. Special precautions for women, hunters, bikers and photographers are given special consideration, as well. Finally, living in Bear Country and a short essay on Bear conservation.
Excellent!

Also, try "Mountain Lion Alert", another outstanding Falcon Guide.

Rating:
Summary: Thorough advice
Review: I read this book right after I finished "Mark of the Grizzly" because quite frankly, after reading that book, one does not desire to spend too much time in bear country. Where I go hiking/camping, there are black bears and grizzly bears. How you react to each one could be the difference between a good story and a gruesome mauling. However, it is nearly impossible to find comprehensive advice for dealing with black bears. This author does just that. He discusses both types of bears. He covers behavioral differences and offers advice on how to react in a slew of situations. He also provides "catch-all" advice in the event that you can't accurately identify the type of bear you have encountered (which has happened to us - I credit the author for my ability to keep a clear head when we encountered the bear). This book is quick to read, and I do so every year as a refresher.

Rating:
Summary: As much advice as anyone can give you.
Review: In this tiny book is as much advice as anyone can give a person who is headed for Grizzly Brown Bear country. Read it before heading into the woods but keep it in your backpack while camping for review.