« | » Back to Blog

A Shape in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears

The League’s most recent Geography of Hope presentation — featuring Drew Hamilton and Bjorn Dilhe, and highlighting Bjorn’s upcoming book “A Shape in the Dark” — offered a unique chance to experience Alaska’s brown and black bears and learn from Bjorn’s lifelong experiences with and passion for these animals.

Throughout the presentation, Bjorn shared stories of his time exploring under the old-growth canopies in the Tongass National Forest, home to one of the densest brown bear populations on the planet. Bjorn and League staff also shared how this critical habitat was recently exempted from Roadless Rule protections that would otherwise prevent unnecessary roadbuilding and preserve millions of acres that are vital for bears, Alexander Archipelago wolves, pacific salmon, bald eagles and countless other species of wildlife.

Screenshot via Alaska Wilderness League

If you feel as we do, that America’s largest national forest and haven for brown bears deserves to be protected today and for generations to come, we urge you to contribute to the fight and speak out to your representatives in Congress.

Screenshot via Alaska Wilderness League

Continue the adventure: Pre-order your (signed!) copy of “A Shape in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears” here and support a great bookstore while doing it. While you’re at it, check out some of the wonderful partner groups that helped make the book possible: Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Mountaineers Books (the book’s publisher), SalmonState and Salmon Beyond Borders.

Become a member and donate: Your membership dollars provide important resources in the fight to protect some of the most important brown bear habitat in the world. With your contribution, you will make an immediate impact on the efforts to preserve the Tongass National Forest and other unique ecosystems across Alaska.

Speak out: Urge your representative to cosponsor the Roadless Area Conservation Act and protect millions of acres from unnecessary roadbuilding.

Watch the episode:

 

Looking ahead, we have more amazing virtual experiences upcoming in the Geography of Hope series. You can find more information about each of these events on our series page or RSVP directly for specific offerings below:

Photographic Inspiration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with Chad Brown (Tuesday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. ET)

Alaska’s land, its people, and global evolution: An artist’s perspective (Tuesday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m. ET)

We hope to see you there!

Cover photo: U.S. Forest Service