DO BEARS POOP IN THE WOODS?

Along with answering the titular question (“You bet they do!”), this field guide to bears presents a…heaping helping of facts.

Whatever readers, particularly those who actually live in bear territory, may think of Lewis-Jones’ positioning bears as “cute and cuddly” creatures and of Caldwell’s placing himself and the author in several painted scenes peeking out of bushes just a few feet away from their wild ursine subjects (“They should be watched from a safe distance.” No kidding!), there are enough behavioral notes, biological basics, and even bear references in myth and legend to satisfy most omnivorous younger naturalists. Not only do the eight extant species get individual character files and closer looks, with nods to both long and recently extinct species and the ultra-rare Gobi grizzly (perhaps less than 40 left), but the author explains in detail how the creature’s supersharp sense of smell works, how they communicate, and (natch) what scientists can learn from analyzing the contents of their voluminous scat—which, along with the expected food waste, “has been known to include tin cans, pizza boxes, plastic watches and even hubcaps.” In the illustrations, the two nature guides are occasionally joined by a cast of light- and dark-skinned children or researchers in museums or woodsy settings. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Could use clearer safety cautions for actual would-be observers, but armchair nature lovers will grab with both paws.