THE GREAT GRIZZLIES GO HOME

When two grizzly bears surface on Cormorant Island off the coast of British Columbia, their unexpected presence triggers local excitement.

One September day, after a long trek from the Great Bear Rainforest on the mainland, two grizzlies arrive in the quiet coastal town of Alert Bay, snack on wild cranberries and grasses, and watch the sunset. The next day, they explore the town, walking the streets, nibbling gardens, and digging shore crabs. When they start ambling through backyards and climbing trees to eat plums, the bears really attract attention since no one has ever seen a grizzly on the island before. Eventually, conservation officers lure the bears into containers with plum and salmon treats. After they are tranquilized and moved to the airport, the bears are hoisted by helicopter in a large net and flown safely back to their forest home on the mainland, to everyone’s relief. Based on a real event, this simple story calls attention to the increased presence of bears in urban settings; inclusion of useful facts on grizzlies, bear encounters, and safety tips for avoiding bears when hiking and camping spurs reader awareness. Luminous, realistic, colorful illustrations capture the splendor of coastal British Columbia, adding geographic, cultural, and naturalistic context as well as revealing the grizzlies as calm, curious, hungry visitors simply enjoying their holiday away from home.

Great bear encounter.