Book SummaryBear in the Back Seat II, by Kim DeLozier and Carolyn Jourdan

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Bear in the Back Seat II

The writer shares his own stories and close encounters with various wild animals, with a particular emphasis on his dealings with bears.

This section of the guide explores the various wildlife encounters experienced by Kim DeLozier, with an emphasis on his experiences with black bears in the vast expanse of the renowned national park, known for its mist-enshrouded peaks. Kim DeLozier and Carolyn Jourdan explore the intricate and rewarding aspects of handling these animals, highlighting their sharp instincts, potential for unexpected behavior, and the detailed management required for their interactions with humans.

Interacting with the bear within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

In his personal accounts, DeLozier reveals the unique characteristics and intricate challenges of managing black bears in a national park frequented by numerous visitors. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the wild nature of bears and the inherent dangers associated with human encounters with these creatures.

Bears possess sharp senses and their actions can be erratic.

DeLozier highlights the remarkable intelligence and exceptional olfactory abilities of black bears. He portrays the bears possessing a sense of smell so sharp that they can identify traces of food left behind by park visitors, surpassing the scent-tracking skills of a bloodhound by sevenfold. Preparing food outdoors within the confines of the park frequently results in bears gaining convenient access to food, which in turn promotes their association of food with human activity. Bears possess highly sensitive noses, which makes safeguarding food supplies challenging because they can detect even the faintest scents from a distance. This sensitivity to smells also means that traditional deterrent methods, like using ammonia or camphor, are often ineffective.

The authors explore the unexpected actions of bears, particularly as they become habituated to human-provided sustenance. Black bears generally show a more docile nature than grizzly and polar bears, yet their demonstration of significant strength and cleverness is remarkable. DeLozier shares stories that highlight the surprising intelligence and adaptability of these animals, showcasing their ability to open car doors, take apart roofs of structures to access food, and their skill in remembering particular people responsible for managing wildlife. This unpredictability underscores the importance of approaching wildlife with caution and respect, acknowledging their potential for both clever behavior and unexpected responses.

Practical Tips

• Volunteer for local wildlife conservation efforts that involve tracking animals through scent. While you may not have the olfactory capabilities of a bear, participating in these activities can increase your awareness of the importance of scent in the animal kingdom and contribute to the preservation of wildlife habitats.
• Enhance your camping practices by adopting a 'food hanging' technique using a pulley system. This involves hanging your food supplies from a tree branch high enough to be out of a bear's reach. To do this, find a sturdy branch at least 10-12 feet off the ground and 4-6 feet away from the trunk. Use a rope and pulley to raise and lower your food bag, ensuring it's sealed and odor-proof.
• Engage in community-based bear awareness programs that focus on non-traditional deterrent methods, such as proper waste management and the use of bear-resistant containers. By improving community practices, you reduce the overall attraction points for bears, which can be more effective than individual deterrents. Share your experiences and results with neighbors to encourage widespread adoption of these practices.
• Engage in strategy games that require clever thinking and patience. Games like chess or puzzle-based video games can help you develop a mindset that values intelligence and strategy over brute force, reflecting the cleverness of black bears. As you play, note how often a well-thought-out strategy can overcome a more forceful but less thoughtful approach.
• You can bear-proof your vehicle by installing specialized locks and using scent-proof containers for food storage. By adding aftermarket bear-proof locks to your car doors, you reduce the chance of a bear entering your vehicle. Scent-proof containers can help mask food odors that might attract bears, making your car less appealing to these curious creatures.
• Create a wildlife-friendly space in your own backyard to observe animal behavior safely. Plant native shrubs and flowers that attract local wildlife, set up a bird feeder, and install a small water feature. By creating a habitat that supports wildlife, you can watch how animals interact with their environment while maintaining a respectful distance.

The author honed his skills in safely trapping and moving bears by learning from a series of successes and mistakes.

DeLozier reminisces about his early days in wildlife management, a time when he honed his expertise in handling black bears by trying out various methods and learning from the errors he made. He remembers feeling overly self-assured, demonstrated by a time he tried to transport a sedated bear in his Jeep's rear seat, but the creature regained consciousness mid-transit unexpectedly. The humorous but sincere dialogues underscore the importance of careful planning, appropriate equipment, and deep respect for the strength and intellect of the bears.

DeLozier and Jourdan detail the strategies developed to safely apprehend and transport these large mammals, which include the use of tranquilizer darts, specialized holding apparatuses, and structures designed for their safe movement. He explains the challenges in calculating the precise dosage of medication, which varies according to the weight of the bear, and underscores the necessity of closely monitoring how deeply the bear is sedated. The authors...

Bear in the Back Seat II Summary Wildlife reintroduction and management projects undertaken by the author

This section of the book guide emphasizes the crucial contributions of DeLozier and Jourdan to several projects focused on restoring and overseeing animal populations within the boundaries of a renowned national park, noted for its diverse ecosystems. The authors chronicle their efforts in reintroducing elk, river otters, and red wolves into their native environments, highlighting the challenges faced, the triumphs achieved, and the important lessons learned along the way.

The project aimed at reintroducing elk to the Great Smoky Mountains was a collaborative effort involving several partners.

The book offers a detailed exploration of the joint efforts to restore the elk population in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. DeLozier shares his adventures in trapping, moving, and monitoring these large animals, while also exploring their interactions with humans and their influence on natural habitats.

Elk have been transplanted from different locations.

DeLozier and Jourdan elaborate on the intricate process involved in transferring elk from regions such as Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky and Elk Island National Park in Canada to the Smoky Mountains. They detail...

Bear in the Back Seat II Summary The author encountered numerous obstacles and dangers while protecting a range of different wildlife species.

This final segment of the book highlights the challenges and perils faced by DeLozier and Jourdan as they work to protect the diverse wildlife inhabiting the expansive terrain of the United States' most popular national reserve. They share tales that are amusing but also worrisome, underscoring the unforeseeable behavior of wildlife and the risks tied to employment in isolated and challenging settings.

Field work that is strenuous and hazardous, conducted in isolated locations.

The story details the arduous and perilous nature of the direct research undertaken by the book's author. Navigating to the habitats of diverse animal species often involved traversing treacherous terrain, which included wading through icy waterways, scaling lofty arboreal heights, and transporting cumbersome gear. The authors recount their experiences facing nature's dangers and the difficulties of surviving long durations under arduous circumstances.

The narratives emphasize that those tasked with wildlife conservation in the national park must possess significant strength, enduring vigor, and a diverse set of practical skills. They also emphasize the necessity of thorough planning, complete...