An introduction to the 8 remaining bear species and the challenges they face today. The author presented some of the researchers working in the field today and related her own experiences as she visited places as disparate as panda breeding facilities and bear bile black market dealers. Really interesting! ( )

[4.25] It was a coincidental collision of events that were “bearly” separated by a week. I had skimmed an article about a new book by a journalist who explores the eight remaining species of bears. “Interesting,” I thought, but resisted the urge to add it to an already unwieldy list of “to reads.” That all changed about a week later as I sat on the deck of my cottage at Rushford Lake in Western New York. For the first time in 34 seasons, I spotted a black bear casually sauntering down on the road less than 50 yards from my deck. It was a clear sign - and I immediately checked out “Eight Bears.” Gloria Dickie does not disappoint. I must admit that on the first leg of this globe-trotting literary safari, I worried that a full-length book about bears might not keep my interest. Dickie’s engaging writing style and fascinating anecdotes made for an incredibly fast-paced read. The book makes it abundantly clear why we should all concerned about the globe’s dwindling bear population. ( )