Track Of The Grizzly By Frank Craighead Jr. - A Book Review
Track Of The Grizzly
Written by Frank C. Craighead Jr.
First published in 1979
Recommended ages 17+
A book review by Anna Kay Thomas
Track Of The Grizzly, though a comprehensive and well-written summary of the 1959-71 research on the grizzlies of Yellowstone National Park, is not too scientific or scholarly to understand or enjoy. The late Dr. Frank Craighead Jr. paints a beautiful picture of the Yellowstone ecosystem, from the native vegetation featured in the diet and den construction of grizzlies to the other species that work with them as scavengers. He writes about the pioneering methods they created to track grizzlies. Radio collars and satellite technology were used to monitor marked individuals’ social ranking, home range, habits, and foraging, as well as to better understand the overall population in the Yellowstone ecosystem.
As you follow along, Dr. Craighead and his team’s respectful interactions with the generally nonconfrontational grizzly bears show their humane development of methods to best protect humans and their subjects of study. With their discovery of new information on the unique species, you come to love and have a greater appreciation for the grizzly bear. You even walk away with a few favorite grizzly bears dear to your heart that roamed the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem over sixty years ago!
This imperative and pioneering research was conducted over a period of twelve years by Frank and John Craighead and their collaborators. A controversial lack of due appreciation for their contributions, detailed in the final chapter of the book, nearly led to the extinction of the Yellowstone grizzly. But the perseverance and thoroughness of the Craighead twins are belatedly credited with the preservation of this important species within the North American ecosystem. Read with tears and laughter, The Track Of The Grizzly is definitely a must-read for all ecology enthusiasts, field researchers, Craighead family fans, and those who desire an example of how to make a positive impact on the environment wherever they may be, no matter the obstacles. Wishing you the best on your literary trek!
“I have tried to show the great bears as I learned to know them, because it is crucial that many others learn to know them better. These magnificent creatures are in many ways the epitome of evolutionary adaptation, but in order to survive in today’s world they need our understanding.” - Frank C. Craighead Jr.
Reflective Question:
How could you, like the Craighead brothers, learn more about grizzly bears at Yellowstone National Park? (Suggestion: Other resources to learn more about this groundbreaking research can be found in articles by Frank and John Craighead for 1960s and 1970s editions of National Geographic magazine.)
(However respectfully written, keep in mind that parents are best qualified to decide what information, such as the circle of life and animal husbandry, is appropriate for their child.)
Photography by Anna Kay Thomas