A black bear plays a fairly prominent role in The Poacher's Son. In fact, the book had its beginnings in a series of short features I researched about marauding bears for Down East Magazine — those stories sparked my interest in the unusual responsibilities of game wardens, and the more I learned about the lives of these little-known law enforcement officers, the more intrigued I was by them.
I've always been intrigued by black bears, and it doesn't seem like I'm alone based upon the popularity of this article in today's New York Times.