As we continue to infringe upon bear territory, Karelian Bear Dogs have become a way to get the attention of local communities living with bears and educate them of their responsibility to live in partnership with our wildlife. Today with my guest Nils Pedersen, of the Wind River Bear Institute and their Karelien Bear Dogs, we discuss this wholly different non-lethal approach to human-bear conflict than the standard response of removing bears from the landscape - one that addresses the root problems of conflicts in human communities and leaves the bears alive and in their habitat. Using the concept of “Bear Shepherding” the Karelian Bear Dogs simultaneously teach humans to prevent conflicts and teach problem bears behaviorally based lessons that create boundary awareness and avoidance of human-occupied space. Taking on the role of conservationist, the highly adaptable “Wildlife K-9” has proven to be a perfect partner for wildlife managers and an ambassador for educating the public.