Polar Bears: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior - Hardcover

"Captivating, accurate, and inspiring, Polar Bears belongs in the hands of all who love the wild."

"Derocher and Lynch's handiwork, however, is less a lament and more a celebration of polar bears. And that will almost certainly make it a winner with increasingly fussy readers looking to be awed, inspired, and informed by artfully illustrated books."

"Everyone with an interest in polar bears or bears of any species will want to add this book to their bookshelf."

"This book is as amazing to look at as it is fascinating to read... Captivating, precise, inspiring, Polar Bears is intended for all those who love nature."

"This magnificent species has got the book it deserves."

"A book which would grace any coffee table, but equally one which should be in the library of every zoo and scientific institution which has an interest in polar bears, Arctic biodiversity or the possible effects of global warming. For every curator, animal manager, veterinarian and zoo architect it should be mandatory reading... Global warming, with or without mankind's help, may cause the polar bear to become extinct and this book may be the best record we have to remember it by."

"A welcome and timely contribution... a reliable and comprehensive source of information."

"For a read on polar bears, this book has it all. There is not a stone unturned throughout these pages, which look at every aspect of the species in thorough detail, including their evolution, arctic marine ecosystems and hunting methods... Proving that polar bears are everything you thought they were and more―you won't want to miss out on this read."

"Derocher lays our for us a comprehensive review of work done on these great mammals including their biology, ecology, and behavior. The text is supplemented by stunning photographs by Wayne Lynch who has spent decades following the bears. It all works excellently together―photos and text―and the reader comes away with a renewed appreciation for one of nature's most charismatic carnivores."

"University of Alberta biology professor Andrew E. Derocher and award-winning science writer/wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch set out to produce the most comprehensive book about polar bears to date. They succeeded, with Derocher packaging more than 20 years of scientific study and the experience from more than 40 field expeditions into a reader-friendly, text-based guide complemented by Lynch's stunning Arctic images."

Honorable Mention, 2012 National Outdoor Book Awards

The polar bear, king of the Arctic, is one of the world’s most recognizable animals. Images of the majestic beasts roaming across the ice cap, plunging into frigid waters, and playing with furry cubs have come to symbolize the beauty and grandeur of the Arctic. Andrew E. Derocher and Wayne Lynch have spent decades following the bears, and this book offers the most comprehensive and readable review of their biology, ecology, behavior, and conservation.

With gripping photographs by Lynch, a preeminent wildlife photographer, and the personal stories of Derocher, this book is as stunning to look at as it is fascinating to read. It weaves together their remarkable experiences with the latest research to tell the amazing story of these Arctic predators, tracing the animals back to their evolutionary roots and looking ahead to the future of polar bears on a warming planet Earth.

Through informative and engaging language, Derocher carefully explains the sea ice ecosystem that is essential to the survival of polar bears. He addresses the threat of global warming to the Arctic―home to polar bears for tens of thousands of years―and describes in impressive detail their feeding habits, distribution, den ecology, and reproduction. Lynch’s vivid photographs capture all this and more as they chronicle the wide range of polar bear behavior, from family rituals to ferocious predatory practices.

Captivating, accurate, and inspiring, Polar Bears belongs in the hands of all who love the wild.