Backcountry Bear Basics: The Definitive Guide to Avoiding Unpleasant Encounters

By Dave Smith

Book Overview

Backcountry Bear Basics separates bear facts from anecdotal fallacies, giving you the true story of how bears behave in the world. Author David Smith debunks such popular myths as menstruation being a cause of bear attacks and bear bells being an effective way to ward off bears. He presents consequences and alternatives to the often harmful ways backcountry visitors protect themselves from bears.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 089886500X
• ISBN13: 9780898865004
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Mountaineers Books
• Length: 109 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Women, Menstruation, Bears

Under the heading "Feminine Hygiene and Bears," Glacier National Park's current website claims, "although evidence is inconclusive, sexual actitivity or a woman's menstrual period may attract bears." Women who are concerned about warnings like this should read Backcountry Bear Basics. Instead of repeating or embellishing Glacier Park's menstrual warning (as far too many writers have done over the years), Smith reviewed the...

Enlightening, pragmatic, fun to read

This daring book challenges conventional wisdom about bears, it's well-documented, it provides safety tips you won't find anywhere else, and it's written with style. Reading Bear Basics is like sitting around the campfire and chatting about bears with a witty outdoorsman who has years of first hand experience with bears, and an encyclopedic knowledge of bear literature.You casually mention that bears eat anything and everything;...

Backcountry Bear Basics

I have lived in Yellowstone NP for 25 years. Dave Smith's book , in my opinion, is the backcontry bear bible. Dave's knowlege and research on the subject is outstanding. I insist that my employees are familiar with this book before heading out for a back country experience. Well researched and informative. A must read for any serious backcountry camper.

Most accurate, current, practical information

As a wilderness guide I have read other books, brochures, and articles about traveling and camping in bear country, but none focuses in on the most relevant, practical, current information like Backcountry Bear Basics. Dave Smith backs up his sometimes unconventional assertions with cogent arguments and scientific references for those who want to know more, and he debunks the myths that have plagued bear literature for decades.I...

absolute best book on bears

Careful readers will notice important differences between Backcountry Bear Basics, Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, Bear Aware, and Safe Travel in Bear Country. When you compare the books topic-by-topic (human sexual activity attracts bears, bears have poor vision, never make eye contact with a bear, bears eat anything and everything, etc.) Bear Basics is the most accurate, practical, up-to-date book. Biologist Stephen...