I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967

9/30/2020

Lauren Tarshis

Tarshis is the Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of the Scholastic Classroom Magazine Division; she also edits the language arts magazine, Storyworks, for third through fifth graders.

In addition to the I Survived series, Tarshis wrote Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, and the sequel, Emma Jean Lazarus Fell in Love. Her work is available in English and Spanish, and two of the I Survived titles are now graphic novels.

World Context

Grizzly bears are not identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an endangered species. And yet, grizzly bears were one of the first species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1973 -- outside of Alaska, the bears have been on the list to this day.

When Lewis and Clark explored, grizzly bears roamed from Alaska to Mexico (the Mexican grizzly is extinct) and as far East as the Hudson Bay. It is estimated there were 50,000 bears at the time -- today only 1,400 grizzly bears live in the lower 48 states, primarily in six regional recovery ecosystems in Idaho, Washington, Montana, and Wyoming.

"Mel gently put her hands on the bear's side. They disappeared up to her wrists in its glossy fur. But what amazed Mel most about the grizzly -- and gave her goose bumps -- were the bear's claws.

They were enormous, practically like baseball mitts, furry on top, with thick black pads on the bottom. She knew how powerful they could be: One smack could knock out a moose. And those claws ... long and white and slightly curved. Mel touched the tip of one with her finger. It felt as strong as steel."

Synopsis

Mel's family goes to Glacier National Park every summer. She knew what to do if she saw a bear, but by 1967 the grizzlies had become too habituated to people and human food.

Based on a true story, The Deadly Grizzly Bear Attacks That Changed The National Park Service Forever, which is available through the Smithsonian Magazine. While Tarshis' book is developmentally appropriate, be aware the Smithsonian article is graphic.

Learning Connections

Tarshis offers teaching resources and posters for the I Survived series including The Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967. Teachers and parents can also sign up for her e-newsletter.

Check out Scholastic's series of short video interviews with Tarshis about how she got the idea for the I Survived series, as well as a few trailers for other titles in the series.

Return of the Grizzlies, Time for Kids.com

The Bear Facts, Glacier National Park Lesson Plan, U.S. National Park Service

Ages: 7-12; Third - Sixth; grades; 144 pages. Historical fiction based on bear attacks in 1967 at Glacier National Park.

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