In Bear Country

Book excerpt: They terrify and fascinate us. They are moving closer to us as climate change, deforestation, and rural development diminish their habitats. Once considered rare, romantic creatures, bears are now as common in some places as raccoons. Some say we should leave them alone; others argue that responsible hunting will serve both bears and humans best. Weighing both sides of the argument, award-winning writer Jake MacDonald examines the history and behavior of the three species of bears in North America—grizzlies, black bears, and polar bears. Part memoir and part natural history, In Bear Country draws on the personal experiences of MacDonald and others, providing an absorbing story about the place bears occupy in our world and the place we occupy in theirs. As MacDonald skillfully weaves a compelling meditation on our continent’s largest predators, he delivers a profound and powerful message for all to consider as bear country quickly shrinks and our worlds collide.