For bear biologists and wildlife agencies
Living With People Made Easier
Dealing with the public is the number one challenge (after stretching the budget) agencies face today. Living with Bears Handbook will help staff at all levels communicate with the public and stakeholders in ways that go beyond pure information and help you inspire understanding, cooperation and change.
A Tool You Can Use With Confidence
Hundreds of professionals contributed to Living with Bears Handbook. It’s a tool you can use and recommend with confidence.
You'll have a wealth of easy to reference, up-to-date and scientifically sound information at your fingertips, along with plenty of tools you can use to motivate, inspire and effectively communicate with homo sapiens, a species that’s much more challenging to manage.
Bear Smart Pocket Guides
Three tri-fold pocket guides filled with handy tips and smart advice are a companion to the Living With Bears Handbook. Guides are sold individually or in sets. Learn More
Bears Belong to Everyone
Virginia DGIF often deals with people who are truly afraid of bears. The Black Bear team thinks it's important to spend time talking with people and explaining bears don't want to eat them, just the stuff they leave outside. They also provide loaner bear-resistant garbage containers and electric fences, provide fence-making instructions and direct people to vendors. They do many educational programs and have found their DVD and Living with Bears important tools. One message consistently hammered home is that bears belong to everyone in the Commonwealth, not the DGIF, and that it is everyone's responsibility to prevent problems.
"Conversations about bear management with the public are a different animal. It’s easy to forget that the person you’re talking to may have little or no knowledge about bears. I couldn’t ask for a better reference than Living with Bears Handbook. It covers everything people need to know in an interesting, motivating, easy-to understand way leaves people with an appreciation of how amazing bears are. That’s why I feel it is so important for both the public and our staff who deals with these issues on a regular basis to have this handbook.” Jaime L. Sajecki, Black Bear Project Leader, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Video: Living With Black Bears in Virginia
“Living With Bears Handbook is the best single source of information and inspiration on how to understand and live compatibly with bears. Masterson writes with understanding, authority and wit, and shares her encyclopedic knowledge of bears and how to reduce human-bear conflicts.”
Stephen Herrero, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science, University of Calgary, Canada
and author of Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance
“We ordered books for all our field personnel statewide. It will help us be more consistent in our messaging and responses to the public and the media. The information is sound and up to date, and has been thoroughly reviewed by numerous top bear biologists. It will be a great resource for us, as I’m confident it would be for other agencies.”
Rich Beausoleil, Bear and Cougar Specialist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
“It’s required reading for our college intern program because it is the only book I know of that provides a comprehensive look at how bear managers across North America are working to reduce human-bear conflicts and the approach to the subject and overall theme aligns with FWC’s views on this important issue.”
Dave Telesco, Bear Management Program Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
From the Bear Experts
“Linda has an ability to clearly explain what biologists have a tough time stating simply, and has translated a lot of 'biologist-speak' into more readily understandable language. Living with Bears Handbook does an excellent job of presenting a great deal of valuable information. I highly recommend it to everyone who cares about bear conservation…a copy should be on the bookshelves of all wildlife managers who deal with human-bear conflicts.”
John Hechtel, Bear Biologist
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
The Book At-A-Glance
- Black bear biology & behavior
- Grizzly bears in brief
- Black bear population charts
- Glossary of Bear Terms
- Urban bears
- Causes of human-bear conflicts
- Bear management overview, options
- When bears are killed
- Bear proofing homes & communities
- Being bear smart outdoors
- Trash solutions that work
- The best bear deterrents
- Handling attacks and encounters
- Tools to help communicate and motivate
- Legislation & ordinances
- Working with non-profits and volunteers
- Case studies and success stories
- Extensive resources and references
Put the Book to Work
- Use when training students, interns, volunteers
- Recommend to libraries, visitor centers, bookstores
- Loan out to homeowners in need
- Give to PIO officers and staff dealing with the media
- Equip biologists, field staff and officers
- Link to the book from your website
- Send copies to your Wildlife Commission Members
- Add copies to education trunks, presentation kits
- Recommend to the media
