Bears: They're big, they're out there, and for hikers, they're equal parts terrifying and fascinating. Get to know the North American wilderness's undisputed royalty with Bearpacker, our annual guide to bear science, safety, and sightseeing.
Researchers tracking bears resettling in the southeast watch and learn their habits to help humans adjust to their new neighbors.
There are hundreds of thousands of black bears in America, and we know precious little about what they do with their time. The researchers of the #BearsEyeView project are trying to change that.
In a remote corner of Montana, backpackers and wildlife advocates clash over the future of a bear population hanging on for dear life.
Polar Bears International's Geoff York has been studying Arctic wildlife for more than 20 years. In that time he's had some magical moments—and a few close shaves.
Are bears dangerous? Not if you plan ahead. Learn to stay safe in bear country with these tips from researcher Tom Smith.
Kermode bears, British Columbia's famous white bears, may be in decline as salmon populations drop. What do we lose if one of the world’s most striking animals disappears?
This week, we're paying homage to our favorite backcountry fauna with bear science, safety, and advice. Dive in and get to know the original masters of staying at home.
The best way to show your respect for bears is from a safe distance. Or by wearing them on your socks.
See if you have the knowledge to ID the lower 48's bruins.
Fire seasons are getting worse and longer, and humans aren’t the only ones affected. When the forest burns, what happens to its inhabitants?
While thousands of people flock to U.S. national parks each year in hopes of seeing a bear, spotting one out in its element is just another day in the office for some employees.
There are many kinds of bears in the world. Which matches your personality? Take our quiz and find out.
BACKPACKER staffers try their hand at surviving like North America's greatest predator.
In the Polar Bear Capital of the World, where encounters between animals and people are a fact of life, a 50-year-old program keeps both safe.
Killer grizzlies and cuddly teddies make for good movie fodder, but are they accurate? Our scout goes on a cinematic journey to find out.
Otis the bear is one glorious half-ton of fur and blubber, and for the second year in a row, he's the winner of Katmai National Park's Fat Bear Championship.
Bear rehabber Kathleen Ramsay has rehabilitated hundreds of bears—orphaned, sick, hit by cars. Under her care, they get another shot at growing up.
How much do really know about our furry neighbors? Take our bear quiz and find out.
A warming climate is transforming grizzlies' diets. Will it endanger their future?
What does it take to research one of nature's most powerful creatures for a living? A good education and the tenacity of a mama grizzly.
A fight is brewing over the country's most endangered bruin.
Can a rare breed of highly trained, Russian-bred dogs help keep hikers—and bears—safer? Land managers around the country are betting on it.
Reintroducing the big bear to northern Washington makes more than just ecological sense: We should be freaked out in the woods sometimes.
The agency's decision to euthanize a problem bear in 2015 angered some, but NPS biologist Kerry Gunther says it was the right call. Here's why.
But they rarely show it.
Welcome to Yosemite, iconic American landscape, hikers' paradise, and all-you-can-eat home of the wiliest bruins on earth.