So don't spray your shoes and your camping equipment with it? That's right - and there were people doing that. In fact, what really underscores it is we had people whose whole careers are bears and they were telling people they could use it that way. It wasn't trivial in the state of Alaska. It was a very serious error of judgment.

I just called attention to that. But of course the media got a hold of it - which they should of - but some made a laughing stock out of some of the companies. I think that's why some of them don't send me Christmas cards anymore. They don't like me.

Well, you must report what you must report. If it's true, it's true - too bad!

That's right.

Can you tell me about your ongoing research?

I'm just wrapping up a several year project on the coast looking at eco-tourism at a particular bay. The bay there is only six miles wide by two miles deep and it has more grizzly bears than the entire Yellowstone ecosystem. It's a very dense population.

My study has particularly focused on natural patterns of bears. In that environment, bears exploit every possible food resource including anything under the sand. When the tide is low, they dig out clams and all kinds of things. It's pretty exciting to learn something new about bears.

But, we also look at the people wandering among them. Does that pose a threat to the bear in terms of lessening the foraging efficiency? Is it dangerous for people?

One project that I'm trying to get initiated: looking at how bears respond to sight, scent and sounds associated with outdoor recreation. That's a very important topic because we have a lot of federal workers out in the field, state workers - lots of people who need to be given very specific guidance on how to safely recreate and work in bear country. That's an exciting aspect of what I do right now.