The Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek

After reading the account by Stephen Herrero of this bear and the events surrounding its attacks in Banff and its ultimate death, I have remained intrigued and wishing I knew more details. Sid Marty has done that in his book. Herrero is a noted and respected bear biologist who reports the facts. Sid Marty has gone into the hearts and minds of those involved with this bear and has tried to describe the whole situation from both a factual and personally descriptive manner. I was very satisfied when I finished the book, as Marty had given me the insider story of what went on in the park, in the minds of the people, and even in the mind of the bear. I think he told a great story, regardless of any negative critiques on Marty's writing style. I am keeping this as one of my "forever" books on my special bookshelf.

This book rivals Jaws, only instead of a scary box office smash hit fiction, this one really happened. Marty would make Stephen King proud with this.

I read this book while returning from another hiking/camping trip in the Canadian Rockies just two days ago. I was, in fact, camped about a mile from the scene of the Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek serial maulings twenty-eight years ago. Time and distance do not make the telling any less horrifying, the issue any less compelling. Sid Marty weaves natural history, bear biology, ecology, politics, spirituality, and the imagination of both the bear and ourselves in a book that is, in turn, frightening, beautiful, and sad. The history of man-bear conflict is a long and fascinating one; and there is a long list of books on the subject. This is among the very best. Marsh Muirhead - author of "Key West Explained - a guide for the traveler."