“Hardly any other animal has left such a strong and lasting impression on the people of the northern half of the globe as the bear has,” Wolf D. Storl writes near the end of his latest book. “It’s archetypical image has engraved itself deeply into their souls. Contrary to many wild animals that populate the world of fairy tales and fables, furry Bruin — with a few exceptions — appears as a good-natured, snuggly, and contented being. From a safe distance, he is seen more as a friend than a threat.
