Great Colorado Bear Stories

by Laura Pritchett

Great Colorado Bear Stories is an incredible look at Colorado’s bears, including the grizzlies that once roamed the state and the black bears that still do.

Carefully researched and skillfully written by award-winning Colorado writer Laura Pritchett, these stories describe the fascinating science and natural history of bears along with gripping tales of deadly and near-death encounters with people. Some stories are historical, such as Roosevelt’s hunting, Pike’s exploring, and the death of Colorado’s last grizzly. Other tales are contemporary—backyard bruins in the suburbs, close encounters in the wilderness, and dedicated wildlife scientists who crawl deep inside dens with the bears. These stories involve hikers, ranchers, hunters, historians, Native Americans, and regular folks—at the moments their lives have intersected with the great bruins of Colorado.

239 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Laura Pritchett's seventh novel THREE KEYS is now available. Booklist has this to say: “A dedicated environmentalist and acclaimed nature writer, Pritchett’s keen observations of the world…are wondrous and lyrical, grounding her heroine’s journey in beauty and grace.”

Kirkus has this to say: “Engaging…thought-provoking and insightful. A satisfying examination of one woman’s journey of self-discovery.”


Pritchett is also the author of PLAYING WITH {WILD}FIRE (Torrey House, 2024), THE BLUE HOUR (Counterpoint, 2017), RED LIGHTNING (Counterpoint, 2015) STARS GO BLUE (Counterpoint, 2014), SKY BRIDGE (Milkweed Editions, 2009), and HELL'S BOTTOM, COLORADO (Milkweed Editions, 2001).

Known for championing the complex and contemporary West, giving voice to the working class, and re-writing the “Western,” her books have garnered the PEN USA Award, the Milkweed National Fiction Prize, the WILLA, the High Plains Book Award, several Colorado Book Awards, and others.

She’s also the author of one play, two nonfiction books, and editor of three environmental-based anthologies.

She developed and directs the MFA in Nature Writing at Western Colorado University, one of the few in the nation with a focus on environmental and place-based writing.

She earned her Ph.D. from Purdue University.

Her work has appeared in The New York Times, O Magazine, Salon, High Country News, The Millions, Publisher’s Weekly, The Sun, Brain, Child, and many others.

She is also known for her environmental stewardship, particularly in regard to land preservation and river health. You can find out more at her website www.laurapritchett.com or www.makingfriendswithdeath.com

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spend my summers in a small cabin in a Colorado valley where bear encounters are common. I learned a great deal about the big guys from reading this book and am heartened by Pritchett's clear statement that only three people have been killed by bears in Colorado in more than 100 years, based on written records. In 25 years, I've only had one encounter that felt dangerous, so it's good to know that statistics are on my side. Pritchett shares her respect for bears, explains their history in the state, and gives suggestions for keeping them and you safe in a habitat that is shrinking because of overdevelopment, wildfires, and drought. Pritchett shows that bears are not our enemies—they are gorgeous creatures sharing the beauty of the land with us. And they were there first.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd recommend this book for anyone moving to Colorado. The author provides a variety of stories about bears (both Black and Brown/Grizzly) in the state, ranging from history to researched newspaper reports to current events. My favorite was the chapter written by Enos Mills in 1919, describing how he raised a couple of bear cubs after his brother shot their mother. He clearly respected and adored those bears! I skimmed/skipped a couple of sections (mainly hunter stories) but overall liked the book and learned how to live with bears: respect them, don't feed them, put trash in bear proof containers. Bears generally have no interest in people, leave them alone and in most circumstances they will leave us alone.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yikes.

[timv · Rating 5 out of 5]

great Colorado bear stories, but much more than bear stories.... such fine writing & research! I know my share of bear stories, but I learned many interesting things from this book-- historical bear stories -for example, the story of Enos Mill - the father of Rocky Mountain national Park , current scientific research on bears, current human-bear conflict issues ( there are a lot of them), etc.

I really enjoyed this book.

[Brenda Wyss · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was palatable only because of my love of bears, not for any love of the book. The "author" is more of an editor of the tales. Her insistence on pointing out the errors in other's writing with repeated use of (sic) only make the glaring errors in her written portions all the more irritating. I learned a thing or two, enjoyed one story about a boy's hunt enough to read to my children, but I do not recommend the book otherwise.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura's done a great job pulling together perceptions, encounters and facts about bears in a highly readable manner. I would have loved to read more about the Mutants! (yes, you'll have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and balanced, Pritchett explores and excerpts bear encounters from many eras and perspectives.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important book for anyone who lives in Colorado bear country. Ms. Pritchett has an engaging style and does a thorough fair job of life with bears.

[Bernd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A educational book about bears in Colorado, after having read the book you might think about bears differently.