Alaska Bear
Stories, Appendix A
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More Alaska Bear Stories
by Larry Kaniut
Who must have this book: Anyone who didn't
get enough bear stories with Kaniut's first book.
Who should have this book: Anyone who spends
time in bear country and enjoys true life thrillers.
ISBN: 0882403729
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This
book really is what it says it is. You could duct tape this book to
the back of Kaniut’s Alaska Bear Tales and except that the pages
would be thick where they join, you would never know where one stopped
and the other started. The one nice thing about this book though is
that there seem to be far less graphic maulings and more bear tales.
In fact the first third of the book are stories about hunting bears,
not being hunted.
One thing I did realize while reading this book is that it is almost
impossible to separate bears from Alaska. While I was finishing up
this book I read on the Anchorage Daily News that a black bear had
broken into a trailer in Juneau with the whole family still inside.
Apparently they chased the bear back and forth around the trailer
trying to shoo it out. Every Alaskan is proud of his bear stories
and eager to share them with whoever shows interest.
For those who have not read any Larry Kaniut books before, he is a
master of gripping Alaskan survival stories. The books read very quickly
because you have a hard time putting them down. They are filled with
anectodotal stories and while they are not outright text books, you
do end up learning from them. This book is no different and perhaps
the best lesson to be learned is to be careful when hunting whether
it be bear or other animals. You are on his turf and he claims any
food source, no matter who killed it, as his own.
For those who have read Kaniut before, this book is
exactly what you have come to expect. A 280 page thrill ride of stories
as told by those involved.y
Overview
The first chapter, and almost the first third of the
book, are stories about hunting bears. It is a nice reprieve from
the bear hunting the hiker stories. Larry gives a great sense of the
excitement and adrenaline involved in hunting the mighty creatures.
Also, he make is certain that there is a thin line between hunting
and being hunted once a bear is injured. Also interesting is how often
men and bears get into personal battles that can last for years before
the hunter succeeds.
The hunting chapter is followed by a chapter of close calls. The chapter
is named what you get “Close Calls.” Stories with no or
minor injuries. Two chapters later is the aptly titled, “No
Escape.” This section includes a table of all 172 bear attacks
Kaniut had recorded as of 1988. Surprising to me were how many incidents
had happened in Denali. I don’t know that I will sleep any easier
in the Denali backcountry after reading about those.
Other chapters cover humorous bear stories and the encroachment of
man’s development into the bear’s land. He does go over
some of the bear issues such as habituation, baiting, and deterrants.
Larry has written two more bear books since this one was released.
I don’t know how many more there will be, but just reading the
Anchorage papers – I’d say there will be at least one
more coming. The bears keep writing new material for him.
Author
Larry Kaniut has authored a string of books from Alaska
Bear Tales, More
Alaska Bear Tales, Bear Tales for the Ages, Some
Bears Kill, Danger Stalks the
Land, and Cheating Death
and his newest book Tales From the Edge. He maintains
a web site at www.kaniut.com,
but his books are cheaper at Amazon.com
Other books by the Author
