Bear in the Back Seat

Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Volume 1

By: Kim DeLozier, Carolyn Jourdan

Narrated by: Carey Jones

This is the first volume in a series of true stories from "[a]n extraordinary landscape populated with befuddled bears, hormonally-crazed elk, homicidal wild boars, hopelessly timid wolves, and nine million tourists, some of whom are clueless". In Kim DeLozier’s world, when sedated wild black bears wake up unexpectedly in the back seat of a helicopter in mid-flight, or in his car as he’s driving down the highway, or in his office while he’s talking on the phone, it’s just another day in the park. You’ll love seeing Kim and a fellow ranger tested as they bravely take on the task of relocating 77 live skunks by sedating them with darts from homemade blowguns, especially when the pickup truck load of stinkers wakes up while still in transit. A hilarious, heartwarming, and heartbreaking memoir by the chief wildlife ranger in the number-one most popular family vacation destination in the USA, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For over 30 years, Kim DeLozier acted as a referee in the wild, trying to protect millions of park visitors from one of the densest populations of wild black bears in America - and the bears from tourists who get too close. Written with Wall Street Journal best-selling author Carolyn Jourdan, who has several highly-regarded number-one Amazon best-sellers about the Smoky Mountains and Appalachia.

©2013 Kim DeLozier & Carolyn Jourdan (P)2014 Kim DeLozier & Carolyn Jourdan

Fun read.

Nice, quick, easy to listen to book. I loved the authors passion and love for the Smokey Mountains. I learned a lot about bears and their behaviors.

Laugh out Loud

I love books about wild animals, their habitats, and the people who work with them. And, when an author can tell the stories with humor, it's even better. I had to quit listening at night after going to bed. I would laugh so much it would wake me just as I was about to start relaxing. It's also a very hard book to put down. Great for a car ride when you're getting bored. It'll bring you back to life.

Entertained myself and my teen boys

This book is well written with Lots of funny stories, and a couple of sad ones.

Couldn't stop listening!

I loved this book! Well-written and engrossing, it gave me a new insight into the National Park Service and their work with wildlife. An absolute must-listen! Thanks, Audible, for recommending this in your list for "overlooked books"!!!! Loved it!

Laughed out loud!

While there are a couple serious/sad stories, there were many stories that had me laughing out loud (which elicited many strange looks as I ran with headphones). As a native southerner, I truly enjoyed the narration and really think it made the book.

One Lucky Man

To have this as your line of work would truly be a blessing. I can't imagine a more rewarding line of work. The only downside as far as I can tell world be having to deal with the idiotic visitors that invade the parks and have such harmful effects on it's wildlife. Thank you for your service, for the protection you've provided to the Forest and the creatures that inhabit it.

Wonderful stories

I always been interested in the Appalachian trail. This book title captured my attention and the stories held my attention to the very end!

Well written wonderful read

Wonderful book! I will listen again!!!😀gave as gifts. Family enjoyed it.
Bought the books and hope they soon come out with his second book on audible.

Black bear advocacy

Yes, he does write a lot about that, which is good! Whole book tho is peppered with amusing animal stories!

Delightful, moving, and informative

I loved every minute of listening to this book on Audible. I learned a lot about the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and about the wildlife there, and also about how humans interact with and impact the wildlife. I really appreciated the author's perspective on people and wildlife and nature and would enjoy reading this book again.