Mazur's oral history Speaking of Bears is at times heartbreaking and tragic yet ultimately a tale of atonement-how the National Park Service, concessions, local communities, and visitors all stepped up to right a conservation wrong after collectively acknowledging the real source of human-bear conflicts: ourselves. -Beth Pratt, California Director, National Wildlife Federation
Bears are an iconic component of the Sierra Nevada experience. In Speaking of Bears, Dr. Mazur uses a diverse collection of oral histories to capture the pervasive challenges, early failures, and eventual successes in our relationship with bears in the Sierra. Speaking of Bears offers an entertaining and engaging approach to telling the complete story. -Sean M. Matthews, PhD, Associate Conservationist, Wildlife Conversation Society
Speaking of Bears is a fascinating, rare, and eminently readable behind the scenes look at the complex world of bear management. It is filled with the stories behind the stories, all told by the people who lived them. After reading this book, even the casual bear aficionado will understand why it often takes more than sound science to solve human-wildlife conflict; it also takes curiosity, intelligence, perseverance, and passion. -Linda Masterson, Author of Living With Bears
Speaking of Bears is not only an essential history of bears in the Sierra, but an invaluable roadmap on how to balance wildlife and parks in the years to come. -Phil Schiliro, Former Special Advisor and Director of Legislative Affairs to President Barack Obama
Rachel Mazur has made a substantial contribution to the behavioral science research with this insightful work, but perhaps more importantly, she brings these stories to life. -Sean O'Keefe, Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration; Former Administrator of NASA, Secretary of the Navy, and Deputy Assistant to President George H. W. Bush
Until recently, black bears wanting people's food or edible garbage in Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks broke into cars, ripped into tents, threatened people, and more. Mazur tells the story of how the parks finally became close to 'bear proof' by building her book around quotes from the people who were on the front lines of bear management. What results is a lively, fascinating tale. -Stephen Herrero, PhD, Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary and author of Bear Attacks: their Causes and Avoidance.
With a collection of stories told by those in the trenches, Speaking of Bears exposes the complexities of human-bear conflict. It is a vibrant tale of what has been tried, has and hasn't worked, and may be next. Along the way, the reader discovers that the answers are often not as easy as they initially appear. -Marc Kenyon, Human-Wildlife Conflict Program Coordinator, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Mazur is one of a rare breed of ecologists who write about natural history with ease. In Speaking of Bears, every page is both engrossing and informative. By the close of this book, you will know the passion and science behind bear management and you will be richer for the experience. -Savannah Boiano, Education Director, Sequoia Natural History Association
