Montana bear book educates and entertains

New book tells great Montana bear stories

KALISPELL—A new book by Kalispell author Ben Long makes fascinating reading for anyone interested in bears. “Great Montana Bear Stories” (Riverbend Publishing) tells incredible true stories about Montana’s grizzly bears and black bears from the days of the mountain men to the mauling death of an elk hunter in 2001.

The book educates as it entertains by discussing how to travel safely in bear country, how to use bear pepper spray, the risks of hiking with dogs, and how to react in a bear attack. The book’s 16 chapters contain dozens of stories. Some are comical, others tragic, some inspiring, and some simply terrifying.

“Bears seize our imaginations quite unlike any other animal,” Long said. “Why are we so fascinated by bears?” In the book Long answers that question with keen insight, pointing out that bears have held a special place in the minds of humans for thousands of years. One reason for this is our fear of bears, but Long argues that Montana without bears would be a far lesser place.

“Great Montana Bear Stories” includes classic tales from Glacier National Park as a well as gripping new stories from the Yaak Valley to Yellowstone. The 184-page book sells for $12.95 at bookstores.