Bears of North America Black Bears, Brown Bears, and Polar Bears

About this book

Get to know black bears, brown bears, and polar bears like never before-through Stan Tekiela's wildlife photography, personal anecdotes, and years of research.

They are icons of our wild places. They are powerful and intimidating, yet they signify calmness, comfort, and peace. Bears are adored around the world. They are magnificent animals that capture our fascination. Enter the world of bears with award-winning author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela.

Crawling into black bear dens in northern Wisconsin, trekking across the Manitoba tundra in search of polar bears, traversing the Rocky Mountains in pursuit of grizzly bears, Stan spent more than 20 years traveling across the United States and Canada to observe and photograph bears. He documented every aspect of their lives: major events such as mating and hibernation (torpor), as well as everyday activities including foraging, hunting, and socializing. The result is a striking portrayal of these mammals in Bears of North America. Stan's extraordinary photographs depict the creatures in a new, unique fashion. The coffee-table book is pleasurable to browse and easy to read.

Accompany Stan on some of the greatest adventures of his life. Explore North America's desolate areas with him, pursuing these resourceful animals. With his instinct for being in the right place at the right time, Stan utilizes rare opportunities to capture some of the most compelling images of his career. Through this book, you can share in his research and develop a new appreciation and respect for bears. Bears of North America is a must-have for lovers of wildlife and nature.

Contents

- Bears-a lifelong affair
- An eminent history
- The bear family
- Origins of the species
- Species around the world
- Black Bears
- Brown Bears
- Polar Bears
- Is it a Black Bear or a Brown Bear?
- Names of distinction
- Sizes north to south
- Considerations of weight
- Life expectancy
- Roaming the home range
- Step-for-step paths
- Scent marking
- Claw scraping
- Posturing to communicate
- Expression of aggression
- Congeniality
- Not just smart-resourceful
- Large skull and jaws
- Claws and paws
- Tiny tails
- Snouts and scents
- Fuzzy ears, sharp hearing
- Sight, near and far
- Strong, stout legs
- Gait
- Masters at running
- Standing advantage
- Tracks and trails
- Silent travelers
- Swimming trips
- Climbing trees
- Sleeping in trees
- Daybed naps
- Play fighting
- Color palette
- Furry coat
- Hollow hair
- Black Bear blaze
- White, but not albino
- Shedding
- Potluck diet
- Breeding time
- Ready to mate
- Unusual gestation
- Birthing
- Newborn and helpless
- Eyes open
- Mother's milk
- Nursing duty
- Litter size
- Family planning
- A difficult beginning
- Mixing up cubs
- The miracle of hibernation
- Den diversity
- Preparing for winter
- Emerging in spring
- Cautionary measures
- Respecting bears
- Featured bears
- Where to spot bears in the wild
- About the author

Customer Reviews

Biography

Naturalist, wildlife photographer, and writer Stan Tekiela is the author of more than 190 field guides, nature books, children's books, and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers, and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 35 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.