The Great Bear Almanac - Hardcover

Brown, Gary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1558212108 ISBN 13: 9781558212107

Publisher: Lyons Pr, 1993

Synopsis

The bears of the world are among the most studied, and most loved, of all wild creatures. From the polar bear of the Arctic to the grizzlies of Yellowstone and the black bears that roam our woodlands, bears never fail to delight the amateur naturalist or fascinate the scientific observer.
Here, in a single volume, THE GREAT BEAR ALMANAC collects what is known about the world's bears, presenting in words, pictures, maps, and charts a complete factual compendium of bear knowledge.
Virtually everything known about bears is touched upon in this remarkably entertaining book. Part I, "Bears in Their World," discusses where bears are found throughout the world, with notes on population estimates and detailed maps. A full section on anatomy and physiology discusses distinguishing features among bear species, details on the skull, teeth, claws and other bear parts, how well bears hear and see, and much more. Another section investigates hibernation, intelligence, feeding, play, and other behavioral traits.
Part II, "Bears in the Human World," examines the wide range of ways in which bears and human beings intersect: bears in myth and religion, in art, literature, and film, and above all, in real life - bear attacks, human encroachment on bear habitat, governmental regulations on bears, trafficking in bear parts by poachers, a summary of current bear research, and much more. A concluding chapter looks at future prospects for the bears of the world, and offers guidelines for how all those who admire bears can help protect these great and majestic creatures.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The bears of the world, from the polar bear of the Arctic to the grizzlies of Yellowstone and the black bears that roam our eastern woodlands, are among the most studied, and most loved, of all wild creatures.Here in a single volume, The Great Bear Almanac collects what is known about the world's bears, presenting in words and gorgeous photographs, a complete factual compendium of bear knowledge for the amateur naturalist and the bear specialist alike.

From Booklist:

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.

About this edition

• Publisher: Lyons Pr
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 1558212108
• ISBN 13: 9781558212107
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 330