Bears Beware!

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Imprint Page

Dear Diary

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Animal Fact File

Bindi Wildlife Adventures Series

Become a Wildlife Warrior!

‘It really does sparkle like a jewel!' sighed Bindi, marvelling at the view from the passenger window as the small plane began its descent into Kodiak Island, Alaska. The island was nicknamed the Emerald Isle for its stunning shades of green: pristine forests, green rolling fields spotted with wildflowers, sparkling mountain streams and crystal clear lakes.

As the plane taxied into the terminal, Bindi could see her friend Katrina Anderson waving madly from the terminal window. The Anderson family had been friends of Bindi's family for as long as she could remember. She didn't get to see Katrina very often so Bindi was super excited about having an entire week with this adventure-loving family.

‘Calling Bindi Irwin!' shouted Katrina as she saw Bindi appear through the glass doors.

Bindi laughed and dashed over to give her friend a giant hug. ‘It's so amazing to be here.'

‘We've got heaps of fun stuff planned!' Katrina raised her eyebrows in emphasis. She had long ginger hair tied back in a plait and her face was dotted with the cutest freckles. Katrina had a love of animals to match Bindi's, and was particularly looking forward to showing Bindi the gorgeous Kodiak bear, which was a major drawcard for the island.

‘How are you, Bindi?' asked Mia, Katrina's mum, as she gave Bindi a warm hug. Bindi felt a pang of sadness that Terri and Robert weren't with her. But they had stayed on in Oregon to catch up with family and this was her only chance to see Katrina. Mia and Katrina's dad, Tony, ran an ecotour business on the island.

‘I'm great, Mia. Thanks so much for letting me visit,' said Bindi.

‘Question is, where should we start?' Tony asked with a twinkle in his eye. ‘If you're not too tired from the journey, we have a trip on the harbour planned.'

‘Awesome!' cried Bindi. She and Katrina linked arms as they made their way out of the airport and piled into the minibus the Andersons used for their tours. She might have
been on the other side of the world but with friends like these, Bindi immediately felt right at home.

Hugged by the greenest of mountains on one side and the bluest of waters on the other, Kodiak's beauty was breathtaking. From the boat Bindi had the perfect view; the little bays, harbour and the waterways were bustling with commercial fishermen, small ferries and even some yachts. Hopeful pelicans and other seabirds, looking
for a seafood breakfast, followed the fishermen, watching eagerly as the men mended nets and baited crabpots.

‘This place is so full of life!' cried Bindi.

Mia agreed. ‘I think you'll find there are enough activities on the island to keep you and Katrina entertained, what with bear spotting and Russian forts to explore.'

‘Russian
forts?' asked Bindi. ‘Aren't we in Alaska?'

Mia explained. ‘Russians colonised the Kodiak Island archipelago in the mid 1700s. Russian traders and merchants came to the area for valuable sea otter pelts. You'll notice
examples of Russian history and culture when we get to town.'

Katrina took over. ‘We're known best for our bears, of course, but also for fishing and whale watching. But don't forget the volcanoes and glacial valleys!
Most
tourists come to admire the flora and fauna.'

Bindi noted the emphasis on the word ‘most'. ‘What are the ones that aren't admiring the wildlife doing?'

Tony joined in the conversation, looking grim. ‘Hunting.'

‘What kind of hunting?' asked Bindi with a lump in her throat. She had a horrible feeling she wasn't going to like the answer, no matter what it was.

Katrina put an arm around her friend. ‘It's a long and sad list – bears, elk, goats, deer, birds …'

Tony clapped his hands together. ‘But the good news is we're trying to stop hunting taking place on Kodiak Island and we do have considerable support in the local community.'

Katrina smiled proudly at her dad. ‘Go get 'em, Dad!'

It was then that Bindi felt a strange shaking and noticed the ripples on the water increase. She instinctively grabbed the railing of the boat and held on tight. ‘What was that?' she asked nervously.

Tony looked casually about him. ‘I'd say that was a tremor.'

‘An earthquake tremor?' cried Bindi.

Katrina laughed at Bindi's nervousness. ‘Honestly, they happen all the time here. It's nothing to worry about.'

Bindi tried to be reassured by her friend's casual attitude, but she couldn't help thinking Kodiak Island was proving a little more exciting than she wanted it to be!

As they made their way back to land, Bindi felt no more tremors and soon forgot all about her trepidation. There was too much to see and do. The girls were ravenous by the time they docked in the harbour. There was nothing
like being at sea to work up an appetite.

‘I'm starving!' exclaimed Bindi.

‘We have just the place to help you out with that,' piped up Tony with a wink. They walked down the main cobbled street of town and turned into a side street. Bindi noticed a colourful sign further down the street advertising Alaska's best salmon burgers.

It didn't take long for the four of them to find a table in the busy restaurant. The atmosphere was warm and the staff friendly. She was starting to get a sense of what an Anderson family ecotour would be like and she was loving it!

Bindi ordered a salmon burger and then took a look around the restaurant while they waited for their meal. It was built of large logs of wood and the walls were surrounded by old black-and-white framed photographs. Bindi realised that they documented a big earthquake in 1964, when most of Kodiak's wharf and surrounding city buildings were destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami. Deciding she might concentrate on something less scary, she looked around at the other patrons in the restaurant.

Nearby, a large man and a teenage boy were tucking into burgers and a large plate of fries and onion rings.
‘Do you reckon we'll be able to make a bearskin rug out of it, Dad?' asked the teenage boy through a mouthful of food.

The man nodded. ‘What do you think we're paying all this money for?'

‘I want a trophy from this kill,' said the boy, biting enthusiastically into his burger.

‘You'll get a trophy if you're man enough to earn one,' answered the boy's father. ‘Anyway, this Hank says he has an eighty-five per cent success rate. He promises to go the distance to get big game.'

Bindi grimaced, and caught Katrina's eye. Katrina had also been
listening to the father–son exchange. They both took a seat back at one of the free tables.

‘Tell me they aren't serious?' Bindi whispered to her friend.

Katrina shook her head. ‘They're going bear hunting. It's horrible, but it's also legal if you have enough money.'

Finally their waiter arrived with plates piled high with goodness. Bindi looked down at her lunch. Suddenly she didn't have much of an appetite.