In this acclaimed addition to the beloved Scientists in the Field series, author Amy Cherrix follows scientists investigating black bears—and other animals around the globe—who are rapidly becoming our neighbors in urban and suburban areas, with full-color photography.? North Carolina's black bears were once a threatened species, but what happens when conservation efforts for a species are so successful that there’s a boom in the population. With black bear numbers on the rise, suddenly these animals are finding themselves in areas they've never been before—like in and around Asheville. Author Amy Cherrix follows scientists as they study these backyard bears and the local citizens living among them, trying to figure out just how this happened and what it means for bears and their new neighbors. Part field science, part conservation science, Backyard Bears looks at black bears—and other animals around the globe—whose numbers are not only rising, but thriving, and finding themselves in new locations around the world. Gr 4-8-Cherrix accompanies four wildlife biologists who are part of the five-year North Carolina Urban/Suburban Black Bear Study centered in Asheville, NC. As the black bear population rebounded from a critical low in the 1970s, conservation efforts resulted in increased human-bear interactions. To learn about bears' habits, scientists fit bears with a radio collar and GPS tracking device and check on them periodically to observe their physical condition. Such field work requires patience and stamina to collect data to help answer questions about how bear behavior, diet, and size may change in urban settings. One unexpected finding is the tolerance most Asheville residents exhibit toward the increased bear population. Cherrix offers brief accounts of other human-animal relations, from leopards in Mumbai to wild boars in Berlin to feral chickens in Hawaii. She also includes short interviews with the scientists, tips for dealing with bears, explanations of GPS tracking, and related topics. Numerous photos accompany the engaging text. Another recent book on urban wildlife, Michelle Mulder's Going Wild: Helping Nature Thrive in Cities, stresses children's involvement. VERDICT A useful introduction to a field of scientific study that will only grow in importance. A fine addition to nonfiction collections.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankatoα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "The book capably combines the you-are-there immediacy of charting bear behaviors with surprising facts about bears (NC bears don’t do full hibernation; bear pregnancy involves “delayed implantation,” which means months between the conception and the implantation of the embryo) and illuminating information about how humans can best coexist with bears."-- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books?    "[An] encouraging case study of efforts to manage black bear populations."-- The Horn Book Magazine    "Useful introduction to a field of scientific study that will only grow in importance."-- School Library Journal "Another inviting example of scientific field work in a consistently appealing series." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Amy Cherrix writes nonfiction for young readers of all ages. Her books include In the Shadow of the Moon: America, Russia, and the Hidden History of the Space Race and two books in the award-winning Scientists in the Field series— Backyard Bears: Conservation, Habitat Changes, and the Rise of Urban Wildlife and Eye of the Storm : NASA, Drones, and the Race to Crack the Hurricane Cod e—a Subaru Prize for Excellence in Middle Grade Science Books finalist. You can find her online at amycherrix.com.