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| True Stories of Bear Attacks: Who Survived and Why | 
| Author: Mike Lapinski
Publisher: Westwinds Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $8.09
You Save: $6.86 (46%)
New (18) from $8.09
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 491984
Format: Illustrated
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 223
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5
ISBN: 1558686797
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.50289
UPC: 679536686790
EAN: 9781558686793
ASIN: 1558686797
Publication Date: May 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: New - All US orders ship with USPS delivery confirmation, select expedited shipping for faster delivery.
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Product Description
Author and wildlife expert Mike Lapinski compiled this collection of true bear-encounter stories from throughout the western United States, British Columbia, and Alaska. Some have happy endings, some fatal; all are thrilling. But there's more to this book than a heart-pounding read. Think of these as campfire stories with a higher purpose. Mike strongly advocates the use of bear pepper spray for backpackers, rangers, anglers, hunters, photographers, anybody who hikes through bear country. Repelling and reconditioning bears saves lives, both human and bruin, he asserts. In TRUE STORIES OF BEAR ATTACKS. Mike also shares insights into bear behavior, why they attack, how to protect yourself in bear country, and thoughts on the future of the great bear in the Lower 48. Organizations such as the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and the Center for Wildlife Information, National Bear Conservation, in Missoula, Montana, have expressed support for Mike's work.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Excellent, thoughtful, well written book October 4, 2007
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I found this book thoughtful, analytic, and useful. Everyone who goes into bear country should read this book first. The author describes the main situations likely to trigger bear attacks, and stresses safety and avoidance of these. There are many books which emphasize the limitations of using a gun on a charging bear. The author does advocate the use of bear pepper spray for self defense, and describes personal, anecdotal, and experimental evidence for its effectiveness. The author is concerned about both saving human and bear lives. It is not true that he advocates only one brand of bear spray;those reviewers who said that should read more carefully. This book is a wonderful contrast to the many other books on bear attacks which glorify the heroism of those who battled bears with guns, knives, and sometimes with planes.
 Don't waste your time! December 1, 2005
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
Unless you are interested in reading one chapter after another plugging Bear Spray, don't waste your time. The stories are all re-hashed versions of nearly identical situations; Man goes into the wilderness-Man sees bear-Man uses UDAP Bear Spray on bear-bear retreats. This book is one long advertisement for UDAP!! My book was actually misprinted, missing 50 pages right in the middle. Initially I wanted to return my book for a complete one but, after reading the rest of 223 pages, I didn't want to waste any more of my time with this ONE story.
INFOMMERCIAL IN DISGUISE September 27, 2005
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
Much of this book felt like I was watching an infommercial for UDAP pepper spray, except I was not only wasting my time, but also my money, by paying for the commercial by buying this book. I was firmly convinced (prior to reading this book) of the value of pepper spray as a LAST RESORT defense against bear attack- after abiding by all the known SOPs for avoiding surprising or provoking bears. This book is an ad for a product produced by an admitted friend of the author, Mike Matheny of UDAP. I have nothing personal against Mr Matheny, but this method of stealth advertising will only cause me to continue to carry Counter Assault exclusively, which, with common sense and good luck, I have never had to use while travelling in bear country.
pepper spray or firearms? October 29, 2004
22 out of 26 found this review helpful
Lapinski writes that in 1998, he "began spreading the great news about pepper spray with religious zeal." If you're a hiker ooking for an objective analysis on the pros and cons of pepper spray, you won't find it here. If you're a hunter trying to decide whether or not to carry pepper spray in grizzly country, Lapinski's one-sided arguments will turn you off. This book is a shameless ad for pepper spray.
Lapinski begings by telling a story about a time he was hiking in Glacier Park when he spotted a grizzly about 200 yards away. The bear looked his way, then entered an aspen grove. Instead of turning around or going way around the bear, Lapinski walks right in after the bear and a confrontation ensues. "The hysterical impluse to turn and run was overpowering, but my mind screamed for me to stay calm because I was still in control. Though I carried no gun, I was not defenseless." Lapinski slowly backed away, "pleased that bear pepper spray had once again kept me not only safe but also in control of my mental and physical actions."
Did pepper spray keep Lapinski safe or lead him into trouble? A book titled Backcountry Bear Basics notes that, "Just because you have a can of pepper spray, don't go places you wouldn't go otherwise. Don't do things you wouldn't do otherwise. Try to guard against overconfidence." Grizzlies In The Mist author Chuck Neal urges people to carry pepper spray, adding that he doesn't because "I actually fear the 'false confidence' bear spray or firearms tend to convey to the bearer."
Time and again Lapinski tells tales where people with pepper spray walk into bear trouble they could have avoided. Sometimes pepper spray stops the bear from injuring people, but just as often the bear does injure people before being driven away. Lapinski is blind to the fact pepper spray might foster overconfidence that leads to confrontations with bears.
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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