Bear Dogs: Canines with a Mission

Carrie Hunt's dogs are obsessed with bears. These 50 pound bundles of energy and courage routinely take on 400 pound grizzly bears - and win. For centuries, Karelian Bear Dogs have been famous in Russian and Finland for their bear hunting abilities. Carrie has taught these dogs a new trick, using their instinct and energy to steer problem bears away from trouble. As people and bears come together more and more frequently - in backyards, national parks, and wilderness areas - some bears are losing their natural fear of humans, endangering people's lives, and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of property damage each year. If a bear cannot be taught to stay away from people, it has to be destroyed. Carrie, a bear biologist, has trained her unique canine team to teach wayward bears form Montana to Alaska a lesson they will never forget. These endearing dogs, as gentle and loving with people as they are fearless with bears, are bringing a humane solution to this modern dilemma, allowing people and bears to share the wilderness they both love.