Help the Black Bears

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Hilarious, true Vermont game warden encounters with lovesick moose, hungry bears, raucous raccoons, wily poachers, a nutty hunting dog and the most ingenious use of dynamite you’ll ever read! Anyone of any age who enjoys reading or listening to well-written outdoor stories will love this book. Stories include: Raccoon, Riot, Bear Where, Squish in the Night, Moose Vesuvius, Gimmee the Gun, Furry Fish Finder and many more! Vermont Wild is the perfect book to read out loud before a campfire or enjoy curled up on the couch on a snowy day. Loved by kids and adults. A Vermont bestseller! 287, pages, illustrated. Volume 2 coming soon!

Best-selling “Vermont Wild” author Megan Price and Phoenix Books will celebrate national Independent Bookstore Day by donating to a portion of the profits from the sale of the best-selling outdoor adventure series to benefit orphaned black bear cubs.

On Saturday, April 27th, to mark National Independent Bookstore Day, Price will appear at Phoenix Books on Bank Street in Burlington from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., she will be at Phoenix in Essex on Carmichael Street, signing books for fans and discussing her new book which will be released later this year.

“This is an easy and fun way to celebrate local, independent bookstores, help bear cubs and go home with books that will make you laugh and appreciate the best the Green Mountains has to offer,” Price said. “And if funny game warden adventures is not your cup of tea? No problem. If patrons wish to help the cubs, they may choose to drop some change into a jar labeled ‘Books for Bears’ now through May 4th.”

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“WCAX recently reported the Kilham Bear Center (KBC) is overwhelmed caring for 66 cubs, with more expected this spring,” Price noted. “Vermont’s orphaned cubs go there. The center must construct more housing for the cubs and, of course, these little guys eat like bears! Preparing them to return to the wild is time-consuming and expensive. The center needs our help.”

Phoenix Book stores in Burlington, Essex, Rutland, along with Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock and Misty Valley in Chester will all participate in this week-long effort to assist orphaned cubs. Elizabeth Bluemle, owner of Flying Pig Books in Shelburne, said her store will also participate. Patrons who purchase any of the six Vermont Wild books, either online or in person, will know proceeds from their purchase will help the bear cubs. Buying other books? No problem! Patrons can just let staff know they would like their change to be added to the “Books for Bears” fund that will end May 4th.

Ben Kilham, founder of KBC, is recognized worldwide as an expert on black bear behavior. He has been the subject of a National Geographic special and instructs game wardens on how to deal with nuisance bears. The Lyme, N.H. resident’s insight into bear behavior has even helped save endangered pandas. “Vermont Wild” is the Green Mountains best-selling book series, enjoyed by ages 9 to 99, taught in schools and recently optioned for television.

“When I was a toddler, I carried a teddy bear ‘Blackie’ with me everywhere,” the author recalled. “Seeing these sad, orphaned cubs in cages in the WCAX report, it struck me I need to do something to help. Phoenix staff was all for it – another reason to celebrate and support locally owned bookstores.”

Phoenix Books Manager Colleen Shipman added, “When you purchase one of Megan’s books you know you’re getting great stories. Purchase any of her six “wild books” in person or online from April 27th to May 4 and Phoenix will also make a donation.”

“Vermont Wild” was recently optioned by Geoffrey Sharp, a Hollywood producer who grew up in Middlebury and works with Morgan Freeman and CNN. Sharp intends to turn Price’s stories into a TV series.