The Great Bear Almanac

From The Critics

Brown, a recently retired National Park Service ranger and an expert on conservation and bear managment, has written an almanac with many lists, charts, tables, and some text. He compiled data from scientists, bear authorities, naturalists, adventurers, explorers, and laypersons. Although the information will prove useful to specialists, the intended audience is students. The emphasis is upon North American bears, but there is also coverage of bears throughout the world The book is in two parts. The first, entitled "Bears in Their World," covers such topics as evolution, names and taxonomy, disposition, and personality. The second part covers a vast array of topics under the title "Bears in the Human World," including bears in religion and in the entertainment world, hunting, eating bear meat, human injuries and fatalities, and the future of bears. Throughout the book more than 300 black-and-white photographs are appropriately placed; there are also two inserts of color photographs. The sources of information in tables is usually cited. Also, there are occasional bibliographies within the text (e.g., "Important Contributions to Bear Literature") The almanac has three appendixes. The first lists stratigraphic periods, the second includes excerpts from two treaties (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and the third lists 33 "Organizations Involved in the Preservation, Research, and Management of Bears," with mailing addresses and a short annotation giving the emphasis of each organization. This is followed by a glossary listing 35 terms with one-sentence definitions. The bibliography lists a total of 217 books and articles in full bibliographic format. The work concludes with an index "The Great Bear Almanac" is unique in its almanac format and coverage. For example, the excellent book, "Bears of the World" by Domico (Facts On File, 1988), covers such subjects as bear physiology, social behavior, habitats, and distribution patterns in a manner similar to the book under review, but only "The Great Bear Almanac" lists endangered bears by state and covers such topics as bears in art and Sherlock Holmes and bears. "The Great Bear Almanac" is a unique publication that should be considered for purchase by public, middle, and high school libraries and interested academic institutions.

Booknews

The author recently retired from the National Park Service after a 31- year career as a park ranger and bear-management specialist. This compendium, though probably intended for a general audience, is remarkably information-packed, with detailed coverage of the physical and behavioral characteristics of various kinds of bears, and thorough discussion of human-bear interaction and bears in human belief systems. Includes color photos. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)