When an aging male bear joined a rare and natural return of black bears to West Texas, wildlife researcher Bonnie McKinney trapped him for evaluation. She found the bear near starvation. Little did she know that she and El Patron would soon become celebrities throughout the national park and wildlife research communities.

El Patron's story tells the trials of a starving bear marked as a nuisance, the dedication of a wildlife researcher, and the commitment of the people of Carlsbad who rallied to aid this renegade bear after he escaped his new home. Certain to captivate, El Patron's story also provides readers the opportunity to learn more about black bears with its sidebars featuring educational information. Ultimately readers will delight in the endearing, true tale of this outlaw bear and how his story became the Legend of El Patron.

The Legend of El Patron: A True Story is winner of the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers contest in their unpublished works writing category.