Bear Dogs: Canines with a Mission

by Ted Wood

Carrie Hunt's dogs are obsessed with bears. These 50 pound bundles of energy and courage routinely take on 400 pound grizzly bears - and win. For centuries, Karelian Bear Dogs have been famous in Russian and Finland for their bear hunting abilities. Carrie has taught these dogs a new trick, using their instinct and energy to steer problem bears away from trouble. As people and bears come together more and more frequently - in backyards, national parks, and wilderness areas - some bears are losing their natural fear of humans, endangering people's lives, and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of property damage each year. If a bear cannot be taught to stay away from people, it has to be destroyed. Carrie, a bear biologist, has trained her unique canine team to teach wayward bears form Montana to Alaska a lesson they will never forget. These endearing dogs, as gentle and loving with people as they are fearless with bears, are bringing a humane solution to this modern dilemma, allowing people and bears to share the wilderness they both love.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such interesting non-fiction. Did you know that there are dogs that can help to "train" bears to stay away from civilization and interacting too much with humans? This book will tell you all about it with great photographs and detailed explanations of Carrie's travels to save bears from being destroyed.