The Polar Bear Scientists (Scientists in the Field)

by Peter Lourie (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Follow scientists as they scan the Alaskan wilderness for these magnificent creatures.It is springtime on the North Slope of Alaska, and the U.S. Geological Survey team--the polar bear biologists Kristin Simac and Mike Lockhart--is gearing up for polar bear capturing. During a capture, all information is collected on the sea ice. The scientists locate bears from a helicopter, tranquilize them, give them tattoo ID numbers and tags, and collect data such as height, weight, and body fat measurements and samples such as blood, hair, feces, and even teeth. All this information goes into a large database studied by scientists such as Drs. Steven Amstrup and George Durner, the former and current leaders of the Polar Bear Research Project. For more than forty-five years, scientists have been capturing bears in order to get information. What has this information been telling scientists about polar bears and global warming?
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An informative, vicarious trip to the Arctic for polar bear enthusiasts and future scientists.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8—Since the 1960s, wildlife scientists have been studying Alaskan polar bears in their native habitat. Tracking aggressive wild animals via helicopter is a far cry from the stereotype vision of scientists working in a temperature-controlled laboratory. The narrative is a detailed description of such daily duties as chasing down the animals, tattooing them for future identification, weighing them, and drawing blood, all conducted in temperatures that can fall to minus 30F. Nighttime chores include cleaning the instruments and repacking them for the next day. The full-color photographs are nothing short of stunning. They provide images of the animals staring up at the looming helicopter, mother bears with cubs, and scientists carefully and almost tenderly working on the sedated bears. Included throughout are facts about polar bears as well as the impact of global climate change on their chances for survival.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes




Peter Lourie
Peter Lourie lives in Vermont with his family. He is an avid traveler who spent weeks in Florida and Brazil working on this book and says, I am grateful to all the scientists who allow me to accompany them on their explorations. Every little bit of knowledge does in fact contribute to the overall picture of how science can help us to conserve animals. Visit his website at www.peterlourie.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780547283050
Lexile Measure
1260
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
January 10, 2012
Series
Scientists in the Field
BISAC categories
YAN050080 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Conservation & Protection
YAN050090 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Environmental Science & Ecosystems
YAN011000 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Careers
YAN003010 - Young Adult Nonfiction | Animals | Animal Welfare
Library of Congress categories
Research
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Animals / Endangered
Polar bear
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Science & Nature / Envi
Biologists
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Animals / Bears
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Animals / Animal Welfar
JUVENILE NONFICTION / Careers

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