Education. Outreach. Practical Solutions.
Today municipalities large and small have found that motivating people to live responsibly with wildlife takes a combination of education, outreach and practical solutions to the biggest problems, like handling trash. All backed up by legislation that gives officials the tools they need to insure change.
"Living With Bears Handbook is a must-read for urban wildlife specialists, community leaders and homeowners looking to protect their property from ursine neighbors. Masterson uses wit and a wealth of wisdom to convince readers that most human/bear conflicts come when a bear's unending search for food is easily satisfied when humans unknowingly serve it up on a silver platter in easily accessible garbage cans, bird feeders, camp coolers, orchards and gardens."
- Kathryn Kahler, Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine
Now available: Bear Smart Pocket Guides that can be customized with your name, contact information and logo.
Solving the Trash Problem
Working with the sanitation department and private trash haulers is also vital to success. Many real-life examples are highlighted in the book, including Boulder, Colorado, the Kootenai and Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Hurlburt Air Force Base, Canmore, Alberta, Canada and the Town of Whistler, British Columbia.
“We have been using the Kodiak carts since 2012 on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana with no entry from bears or other scavengers,” says George Barce, wildlife biologist. “The local disposal company likes the performance of these fully automated polycarts so well they’ve purchased several hundred to use here as well as in their other service areas.”
Recommended Reading
“This book is full of great stories. It is simply the best resource I have found on living with black bears. As a land manager, I find this book to be invaluable. In fact, this is one of the best books I've yet read.”
Shaun J. Howardon
The Book At-A-Glance
- Bear biology & behavior
- Identifying the root causes of human-bear conflicts
- Practical solutions to common problems
- Implementing bear-smart practices
- Extensive references and resources
- Communicating with the public
- Real-world examples and case histories
- Partnering with agencies and community groups
- Bear populations by state and province
Put the Book to Work
40% discounts start at 5 books
- Donate to schools and libraries
- Present to town council members and city managers
- Provide as a reference animal services and open-space managers
- Ideal for natural resources and law enforcement training
Autographed copies available