The Grizzly Bear, understood as few ever will.
A field-tested journey into the biology, behaviour, and survival of British Columbia's most iconic animal — written by a professional bear guide who has spent thousands of hours watching them live. Available now as a digital eBook.
& wildlife lovers
Knowledge earned over fifteen seasons in the wild
Written by the Vice President of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of British Columbia
A career spent reading the language of bears
For more than fifteen years, guiding in bear country was never just a career — it became a calling. Every season brought new encounters, new lessons, and a deeper respect for the strength, intelligence, and resilience of the bears fortunate observers are allowed to witness.
This book was created to share that hard-won field experience: behavioural observations, safety awareness, and the quiet understanding that only comes from thousands of hours spent watching grizzlies live, feed, raise cubs, and move through wilderness most people will never see.
The complete world of the grizzly — in one volume
Not a list of facts to memorize, but a way of seeing wild bears clearly, safely, and with the respect they deserve.
Read a bear at a glance
Tell a grizzly from a black bear instantly — the shoulder hump, dished face, and digging claws that reveal the animal long before color ever could.
Understand the survivor
Trace the evolution, anatomy, and physical adaptations that let Ursus arctos horribilis thrive from rainforest estuaries to alpine valleys.
Follow the salmon connection
See how the ocean feeds the salmon, the salmon feed the bears, and the bears feed the forest — one of BC's most important nutrient cycles.
Decode behaviour & communication
Learn the posture, huffing, jaw-popping, and bluff charges bears use to speak — and what each signal means for the people watching.
Move safely & ethically
Practical field judgment for surprise encounters, food attractants, and reading warning signs — replacing fear with calm, informed awareness.
Read the landscape itself
Recognize travel corridors, tracks, scat, claw marks, and feeding sign that tell you where bears move — and where you shouldn't.
Grasp the conservation story
Why habitat connectivity, salmon systems, and protected wilderness like the Great Bear Rainforest decide the future of every bear.
Witness the full life cycle
From hibernation and cub-rearing to the slow rhythm of a species that may not raise its first litter until age five to eight.
Rethink coexistence
Understand the human relationship with grizzlies and the Indigenous stewardship that has protected these systems for thousands of years.
Photography taken hours from anywhere
Every image is drawn from real field work — authentic moments of wild grizzlies in the coastal and interior wilderness of British Columbia.
Original field photography by the author, captured in the coastal and interior wilderness of British Columbia.
Written for everyone drawn to the wild
Adventurers
Heading into bear country and wanting to travel prepared, calm, and respectful.
Photographers
Looking to anticipate behaviour and capture wildlife ethically in the field.
Students & researchers
Seeking a grounded, real-world complement to the biology and ecology.
Aspiring guides
Building confidence, judgment, and professional standards for bear viewing.
Conservation advocates
Who care about salmon systems, habitat connectivity, and wild futures.
Wildlife lovers
Anyone who has felt awe at a wild bear and wants to understand it deeply.
Travelers to BC
Preparing for a first unforgettable trip into grizzly territory.
Gift givers
Searching for a meaningful, beautiful book for the nature lover in their life.
Jos Krynen
Jos is a Marine Biology Specialist and Accredited Professional Photographer based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Growing up in the Netherlands, he developed an early passion for photography, sailing, windsurfing, and the ocean — a fascination with marine life that would shape the rest of his life.
After 25 years in the dental field, Jos and his wife Rentia purchased a whale watching company, allowing him to reconnect with his lifelong love of marine wildlife and conservation. Today he works as a Marine Biology Specialist at Eagle Eye Adventures, spending countless hours observing whales, marine mammals, seabirds, bears, and coastal ecosystems — and documenting them through his lens.
He also serves as Vice President of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association of British Columbia (CBVA), helping shape the professional standards, safety practices, and conservation ethics that define responsible bear viewing across the province.
His mission is simple: to inspire people to appreciate, respect, and protect the natural world through storytelling, education, and imagery.
A book people return to, season after season
I've read a shelf of wildlife books, but none made me feel like I was standing on the riverbank. The behaviour chapters completely changed how I watch bears.
We read it cover to cover before our first trip to BC. By the time we saw our first grizzly, we understood exactly what we were looking at — and how to do it respectfully.
The safety and tracking sections should be required reading for anyone working in bear country. Practical, honest, and clearly written by someone who's truly lived it.
Everything you might be wondering
Who is this book written for?
Anyone drawn to wild bears — from first-time travelers to BC and curious wildlife lovers, to photographers, students, conservation advocates, and aspiring or working wildlife guides. It assumes no prior background.
Do I need a science background to follow it?
No. The biology and ecology are explained in clear, accessible language and grounded in real field observation, so it reads naturally whether you're a beginner or already know the basics.
Is this a photography book or a field guide?
Both. It blends original field photography with in-depth chapters on biology, behaviour, safety, tracking, and conservation — closer to a richly illustrated field companion than a simple picture book.
Will it actually help me stay safe in bear country?
Yes. A full section covers safety, ethics, and wildlife viewing — surprise encounters, food attractants, reading warning signs, and the calm, informed decision-making that prevents most conflicts.
What makes it different from other bear books?
It comes from fifteen years of real guiding experience rather than secondhand research — practical judgment, behavioural insight, and an ethical viewing philosophy you won't find in a textbook.
How is the book structured?
Eleven parts move from introduction and evolution through anatomy, habitat, behaviour, the salmon connection, life cycle, human coexistence, safety, conservation, and tracking — plus extended field-guide chapters.
Does it cover conservation?
Extensively. You'll understand habitat fragmentation, road density, salmon decline, climate pressures, and the protected areas and Indigenous stewardship shaping the future of grizzlies in BC.
Would this make a good gift?
Absolutely. Its premium design, original imagery, and meaningful subject make it an ideal gift for nature lovers, travelers, and anyone fascinated by the wild.
What format is the book available in?
The Grizzly Bear is a digital eBook, delivered straight to your inbox after purchase — readable on your phone, tablet, computer, or e-reader.
How do I get my copy?
Click any "Get Your Copy" button to head to secure checkout. As soon as your purchase is complete, your eBook is delivered to your email, ready to download and read right away.
See the grizzly the way a guide does.
Fifteen years of field experience, the biology behind the animal, and the ethics of watching it well — gathered into one book you'll return to every season.
Secure checkout · A meaningful read for every wildlife lover