Grizzly Bear Science and the Art of a Wilderness Life

“Bruce McLellan gifts us with his powerfully personalized story. Together with his wife, Celine, they build a remote log cabin and do pioneering, world-class scientific research into understanding the lives of grizzly bears in complex landscapes. All while parenting their two young kids in the woods. We are fortunate to journey with Bruce and his family. A thorough delight to read!” —Stephen Herrero, emeritus professor of ecology, University of Calgary; author of Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance

“Grizzly Bear Science is a fascinating and authoritative book about the lives of grizzly bears and the men and women who study them. Drawing on an incredible 43 years of field research, Bruce McLellan details the adventure-packed science of bear research and shares  rare insight into the lives of bears: how they survive and raise their families in a complex and ever-changing environment. We learn how bears and people interact and how humans can protect these fascinating and, dare I say, romantic mammals. By extension, the book widens our understanding of conservation ecology in general, and the path forward to preserve all the species that we share this planet with.” —Jon Turk, author of Tracking Lions, Myth, and Wilderness in Samburu, The Raven’s Gift, Crocodiles and Ice and numerous other titles

“Bruce McLellan has spent a lifetime in bear country, gathering both insights and stories to share. Grizzly Bear Science and the Art of a Wilderness Life is a vivid account of one man’s obsession braided with candid tales of a growing family in a most magnificent place.” —Brian Payton, author of The Wind Is Not a River, Shadow of the Bear: Travels in Vanishing Wilderness and The Ice Passage

"Grizzly Bear Science will become a classic in wildlife ecology literature. Bruce McLellan’s passion for grizzly bears and their habitat in a remote and wild corner in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains simmers on every page. While scientific research isn’t meant to be an adventure, McLellan’s pioneering 40 years of studying grizzly bears often tilts into the realm of adventure and near misses. Anyone looking to understand grizzly bears will come away with amazing and novel insights into this mythic beast. McLellan takes the reader on a wild ride, from the earliest days when grizzly bear research was in its infancy all the way to the modern era. This is a terrific read that will appeal to anyone interested in, scared of, curious about, or studying grizzlies." —Andrew E. Derocher, professor of biological sciences at University of Alberta, author of Polar Bears: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior

Grizzly Bear Science will become a classic in wildlife ecology literature. Bruce McLellan’s passion for grizzly bears and their habitat in a remote and wild corner in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains simmers on every page. While scientific research isn’t meant to be an adventure, McLellan’s pioneering 40 years of studying grizzly bears often tilts into the realm of adventure and near misses. Anyone looking to understand grizzly bears will come away with amazing and novel insights into this mythic beast. McLellan takes the reader on a wild ride, from the earliest days when grizzly bear research was in its infancy all the way to the modern era. This is a terrific read that will appeal to anyone interested in, scared of, curious about, or studying grizzlies. —Andrew E. Derocher, professor of biological sciences at University of Alberta, author of Polar Bears: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior