Wild Bears of Canada: Photographs and Stories

Canada’s bears up close—polar, black and grizzly through the lens of a veteran nature guide.

Wild Bears of Canada explores the lives of Canada’s grizzlies, black bears and polar bears through field photography and the nuanced observations of a career nature guide. Edward Savage has spent fifteen years watching bears across some of the country’s most remote terrain—and for many of the bears in this book, that relationship spans over a decade. Some he first encountered as six-month-old cubs; they are now adults with cubs of their own. That depth of observation is evident on every page: how grizzly mothers raise and wean their young, what dangers imperil black bears, and how polar bears locate each other across the sea ice.

Savage ponders the contradictory relationship humans have with bears: Why do we consider these animals dangerous and aggressive in the wilderness, yet welcome these furry symbols as snuggly toys and protagonists of movies? These photographs and reflections explore the many traits of bears that we as humans value and connect with, from the profound mother-cub bonds to the strength and calm they exude in daily life. Savage invites readers to see these animals as he does—as individuals, long-lived and respect-worthy, that grow, learn and thrive in the wilds of Canada.

“Edward’s rare experiences as a seasoned bear guide bring something exceptional to each page of this stunning book. The result is a collection of photographs and stories that are authentic, erudite, and deeply intimate. If you care about Canadian wildlife and wilderness, this book deserves a place on your shelf.”

“The photography leaves you lingering on every page of the book. Wild Bears of Canada is the kind of book that’s only possible from years spent in the field, observing, documenting, and reflecting on different bear behaviours. Savage’s anecdotal field-notes, woven throughout, will widen readers’ eyes and leave them smiling, or scratching their heads in curiosity... Wild Bears of Canada is an ode to bears, their specificity, adaptive intelligence, and essential place on the Canadian landscape.”