Michael Engelhard works as a wilderness guide in Arctic Alaska and holds an MA in cultural anthropology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His books include Where the Rain Children Sleep: A Sacred Geography of the Colorado Plateau, the anthology Wild Moments: Adventures with Animals of the North, and a recent essay collection, American Wild: Explorations from the Grand Canyon to the Arctic Ocean. His writing has also appeared in Sierra, Outside, Audubon, National Wildlife, National Parks, High Country News, and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Acknowledgments

Polar Bear-Human Time Line

Map: Territories of Northern Peoples and Polar Bear Range

1. A Beast for the Ages

2. The Life and Death of a Superstar

3. The Bear as Early Commodity

4. Object of Scientific Curiosity

5. From White Terror to Trophy of Modernity

6. Zoo Bear and Circus Bear

7. Honored Guest and Ten-Legged Menace

8. A Taste of the Wild

9. The Transformative Bear

10. Helper and Protector

11. Lover, Super-Male, Mate

12. Archetype, Role Model, Eco Ambassador

13. Another Seaside Attraction

Notes

Associations and Websites

Selected Bibliography

Index