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Grizzly Seasons: Life with the Brown Bears of Kamchatka
A spectacular journey into the heart of bear country, with more than 175 full-colour photographs, from the authors of Grizzly Heart. The moments of unexpected communion they’ve captured on film will change the way you think about bears forever.
What if the thought of encountering a grizzly bear filled you with anticipation and wonder? What if you knew a bear her whole life, and the bear treated you as a welcome friend whenever you visited? What if bears themselves could be free to live as they were meant to, enjoying nature’s splendour and not fearful of gun-bearing humans?
Not everyone can live the dream, but at least two people (and many more bears) have. For seven years, renowned naturalist Charlie Russell and his partner, artist Maureen Enns, have spent summers in the remote wilderness of Kamchatka, Russia. Home to the densest population of brown bears in the world, the region is also home to Russell and Enns’s unprecedented first-hand study of the kinds of relationships that can exist between bears and humans.
The authors’ first book together, Grizzly Heart, told the unforgettable story of their work with Kamchatka’s brown bears. Now comes Grizzly Seasons, a stunning array of photographs of these captivating and elusive creatures. Central to their project are three bear cubs -- rescued by Russell and Enns from a squalid Russian zoo -- who are reintroduced to the wild and allowed to grow into the wild animals they were meant to be. We also meet other bears face-to-face, who over the years have come to accept, and at times even embrace, the couple’s presence.
What if the thought of encountering a grizzly bear filled you with anticipation and wonder? What if you knew a bear her whole life, and the bear treated you as a welcome friend whenever you visited? What if bears themselves could be free to live as they were meant to, enjoying nature’s splendour and not fearful of gun-bearing humans?
Not everyone can live the dream, but at least two people (and many more bears) have. For seven years, renowned naturalist Charlie Russell and his partner, artist Maureen Enns, have spent summers in the remote wilderness of Kamchatka, Russia. Home to the densest population of brown bears in the world, the region is also home to Russell and Enns’s unprecedented first-hand study of the kinds of relationships that can exist between bears and humans.
The authors’ first book together, Grizzly Heart, told the unforgettable story of their work with Kamchatka’s brown bears. Now comes Grizzly Seasons, a stunning array of photographs of these captivating and elusive creatures. Central to their project are three bear cubs -- rescued by Russell and Enns from a squalid Russian zoo -- who are reintroduced to the wild and allowed to grow into the wild animals they were meant to be. We also meet other bears face-to-face, who over the years have come to accept, and at times even embrace, the couple’s presence.
- GenresNonfiction
160 pages, Hardcover
First published August 18, 2003
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 10, 2022
Incredibly photography and insight into the life of wild grizzlies in Russia! I can't speak much to the scientific study of the whole story (these bears never interacted with humans before so I'm not sure how this Peace and Love message would translate to more populated areas), but I definitely thought all of it was interesting and the photography so great.
August 10, 2017
Charlie Russell, convinced that bears and people can coexist on good terms, spent seven years in a cabin at Kambalnoye Lake on the Kamchatka Peninsula where brown bears are plentiful. They obtained permission to adopt three orphaned cubs from a Russian zoo, with the intention of re-introducing them to the wild. The three bears, Chico, Biscuit and Rosie, were female. Rosie was killed by a predatory bear, Chico moved into an adjacent watershed and Biscuit stayed in the area and mated.
While largely a photographic record, Russell does present his views on human - bear interactions. He states "... we are becoming increasingly confident in saying that a grizzly bear's nature is to be peaceful towards humans, and that bears will accept human presence if they are not maltreated."
At the end, Russell provides a set of rules for human - bear interaction, but they tend to be more usable for individuals. It is not clear that they address the heavy use of bear territory by a humans.
My favorite photo is Chico watching Russell fly-fish, waiting for a catch. The Kamchatka Peninsula appears to be wonderful country.
While largely a photographic record, Russell does present his views on human - bear interactions. He states "... we are becoming increasingly confident in saying that a grizzly bear's nature is to be peaceful towards humans, and that bears will accept human presence if they are not maltreated."
At the end, Russell provides a set of rules for human - bear interaction, but they tend to be more usable for individuals. It is not clear that they address the heavy use of bear territory by a humans.
My favorite photo is Chico watching Russell fly-fish, waiting for a catch. The Kamchatka Peninsula appears to be wonderful country.
April 16, 2013
Amazing photographs, amazing text - ideal coffee table book
June 13, 2015
The pictures are five stars. The text and message not so much.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews