The Grizzlies of Grouse Mountain: The True Adventures of Coola and Grinder

Almost anywhere in the western mountains of Canada, “You are in Bear Country”. This means that human/bear interactions are always possible, and results can be catastrophic for bears, especially if cubs are orphaned. Preservation of the grizzly bear, an icon of the mountain environment, is the rationale behind the creation of Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife north of Vancouver, and its two initial residents are the subject of this book. Rescued as cubs in different parts of British Columbia with no chance of surviving in the wild, Grinder and Coola have lived in the refuge for 19 years. They have provided the ideal opportunity for scientists to study grizzlies and to gain greater understanding of their habitat needs. At the same time, the close proximity of Grouse Mountain to a large population has given the public a rare insight into the habits of these magnificent animals.

But this is not a comprehensive look at the grizzly bear. It is an easy-to-read story of Grinder and Coola from the time they came to live in captivity. Their daily activities are chronicled through the seasons as they learned bear behaviour by instinct in the absence of their mothers. Readers are given a glimpse of their distinct personalities as they grew up together. Particular focus is paid to their hibernation habits in a specially prepared log house within their large, fenced enclosure. A webcam allows people to watch the bears at any time: https://www.grousemountain.com/webcam-winter/bear-den-cam

A couple of maps are included. At the beginning of the book, a physical map shows locations in British Columbia where the two cubs were found, the site of Grouse Mountain, and some statistics of interest: distances, mountain elevation, snowfall average, number of staff at the refuge. A second map midway through the book gives features of the bear enclosure. Following the story, each bear is shown on a single page with descriptive details. Two additional pages offer grizzly facts (Did You Know?). Another double spread shows five photos of Grinder and Coola with amusing speech bubbles to represent personalities. Author and illustrator details and brief information about the Grouse Mountain Refuge and the Grizzly Bear Foundation complete the book. Fifty percent of the book’s royalties will be donated to support the work of this foundation.

Illustrations are a mix of photos and drawings based on photos. Some of the bear images appear to have been cut from a photo and superimposed on a sketched background. This style works for the most part, but one image of a person carrying a child (a visitor who has come to see the bears?) is awkwardly posed and not meaningful.

The dual purpose of the Grouse Mountain Resort/Refuge may be a little confusing for anyone not familiar with the area. One reference is made on page 7 to “a five-acre refuge on the mountain” near (or within) a resort. Not until page 16 do readers learn that “the mountain top became a ski resort again” when fences were removed from the refuge in winter and the bears were locked into their log house/den. Additional details of this location and earlier clarification of its transitional setup would have been useful. The features map on pages 12-13, for instance, appears to show a yurt for people inside the bear enclosure.

Young readers will enjoy this glimpse into some aspects of the life of a grizzly. The man-made setting with people always nearby means the bears have had to adapt and adjust their behaviour to their limited environment. However, they are fine ambassadors of an impressive species that deserves our dedicated conservation efforts. Because of this rare opportunity to learn and appreciate them, the chances are enhanced for the wild population of grizzlies to continue to enjoy a viable existence. The Grizzlies of Grouse Mountain, a special story, will help that vital cause.