  the american bear association home page (web pages2/index)        function mm_swapimgrestore() { //v3.0   var i,x,a=document.mm_sr; for(i=0;a&&i0&&parent.frames.length) {     d=parent.frames[n.substring(p+1)].document; n=n.substring(0,p);}   if(!(x=d[n])&&d.all) x=d.all[n]; for (i=0;!x&&i                                                                                                                                                                                  ...awarded          to our website!                            information          on bears        bears          have fascinated us for centuries. as one of the most adaptable and versatile          mammals on earth, their behavior stirs fear, awe, wonder and curiosity          in us. unfortunately, there are still many myths surrounding the lives          and behavior of bears which impact on people's imagination negatively.          stories of ferocious attacks by blood-thirsty bears on defenceless hikers,          of irrational and spiteful attacks on campers, and so forth, are often          economical with the truth when it comes to explaining why these attacks          took place and whether they were even provoked, directly or indirectly.          the overwhelming sense conveyed in these stories is that bears and dangerous          mean creatures that are an extreme threat to people in any circumstance.          of course this is inaccurate at best, and unhelpful at worst.        the other          commonly found myth is of bears as cuddly creatures of the woods that          resemble the teddy bears we owned as children. while there is no doubt          that bears hold the fascination to trigger childrens' imagination, it          is important that the stories we share with our children be based on facts          and not fiction.       the american          bear association is determined to dispel both myths - the myth based on          fear, and the one based on a misplaced belief that bears are just tame          cuddly animals. bears are intelligent and resourceful wild mammals that          deserve our respect. we believe that a greater knowledge of the behavior,          ecology and habitat needs of bears is crucial if we are to learn to co-exist          peacefully with this magnificent creature.       please          choose from any of the links below to learn more.                                                                       black          bear facts        a          closer look                  halo the white bear                            additional          reading        bears          of the world       frequently          asked questions       links               