MARKETING & PROMO: National, regional, and subject-specific print features, excerpts, review coverage, broadcast and television interviews Blogger outreach, online ads, and social media campaigns Publicity and promotion in conjunction with author's speaking engagements Outreach to subject-specific organizations, markets, and festivals Outreach to travel and tourism organizations Electronic and print blads Excerpts available KEY SELLING POINTS: Bears are a vital species and constantly in the media due to their interactions with humans and the constant threats to their habitat. Explores the complex behavioural characteristics of North America's largest land carnivores by examining the bear-human relationship from the bear's perspective. Looks at the issues surrounding bear and human interactions in the ever-shrinking wilderness. Explains how our perception of bears has changed over the past 100 years and how that has influenced land management and rural development (e.g., from building bleachers at park dumps to watch bears feed to completely separating people and bears with aversive conditioning programs). Each chapter in the book is written and designed to help change the reader's perception of bears by increasing their understanding of bears and the animal's foundational character traits. Bears are complex animals - they think, process events, and make decisions on how to react to stimulus.

They also have the ability to learn, meaning that the way they react to the same stimulus will change over time. Everyone who recreates or even thinks about recreating in bear habitat has a relationship with bears. The authors make references to the current bear biology literature, breaking down current scientific understanding for the general reader and nature enthusiast. Includes stories from the field from both the author and photographer, along with other bear biologists from around North America, highlighting some of those special moments when they connected with a bear. Heavily illustrated with a wide variety of stunning colour photographs by John E. Marriott.