It would make exciting reading if a forty-year-old grizzly bear were to
write his autobiography. Beginning with the stories from his mother of
the long and exciting journey of his ancestors from far-off Asia and of
her own struggle in bringing up her family, and then telling of his own
adventurous life and his meetings with men and with other animals, he
could give us a book of highly dramatic quality. Just what a wise old
grizzly would say while philosophizing concerning the white race would
certainly be of human interest and rich in material for literature.
A vigorous, courageous adventurer himself, and a keen and constant
observer, the grizzly would have clear-cut views concerning the
explorers, early settlers, and hunters. The arrival of the early white
people aroused his extraordinary inherent curiosity. He watched them
with wondering eyes. He was even inclined to walk right into camp to
make their acquaintance. He had no evil intentions, but he was greeted
with yells and bullets. Relentlessly down through the years he was
pursued. Dogs, guns, poison, and traps have swept a majority of the
grizzlies away. Their retreat was masterly and heroic, but the odds were
overwhelming.
In the midst of this terrible hunt the Yellowstone wild-life reservation
was established. Instantly the grizzly understood, years before other
big animals did, and in its protection at once came forth from hiding,
eager to be friendly with man. I should like to know his wonderings
concerning this place of refuge--why its creation, why its mysterious,
invisible boundary-lines, and why, outside of it, the fierce,
never-ending pursuit for him has still gone on, until his noble species
is verging on extinction.
What, too, are his feelings over the increased friendly interest in his
species all over the nation? How excitedly must he catch the echoes of
discussions which are telling that he has been misunderstood, that he is
not a bad fellow! And surely, if writing, he will pause abruptly when he
hears that the public, and even the hunter, is making efforts to have
the hunt for him checked--learns that there may early be a close season
on the grizzly bear.
* * * * *
During the past thirty years I have had numerous experiences with the
grizzly bear in various sections of his territory. In it I have camped
alone and unarmed. I have trailed the grizzly without a gun. I have
repeatedly been outwitted by him, but never has he attacked me. I have
not found him ferocious, and I consider him in most respects the
greatest animal on the North American continent, if not in the world. He
excels in mental development and physical prowess, and he possesses the
rare quality of loyalty. He is full of curiosity and is a born
adventurer. The species impresses one with its superiority, and the
individuality of each grizzly ever stands out.
The material in this book is drawn chiefly from my own experiences with
grizzly bears in the wilderness. Ten of the chapters have not before
appeared in print. The author acknowledges with thanks the courtesy of
the editors of the _Saturday Evening Post_ in granting permission to
reprint from that magazine parts of three chapters contained in this
book; and to the editors of _The American Boy_ for two chapters
reprinted herein. Dr. C. Hart Merriam has kindly consented to the
reproduction of a part of his comment on the grizzly and big brown
bears, together with his up-to-date classification of them. This
valuable material represents the work of years.