Book Description

Includes descriptions of the habits, habitats, tracks, signs, and ranges of all the mamals of North America.More than 1,000 illustrations show individual tracks, different track patterns, animals in their habitats, droppings, and gnawed trees - every type of clue the tracker needs. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A must-have tracking classic
When I was a kid running a trapline in northern Michigan, this was the book I carried in my rucksack. Today, more than 35 years later, I've written 2 books of my own on the subject of tracking wildlife, but this book is still on my bookshelf. Olas Murie was a true American pioneer who led the way into an area where no one else had gone before him. He established the first standards, and while modern genetic and other scientific techniques have increased our knowledge of wildlife manifold over what was known in Murie's day, it was he who laid the foundation on which the rest of us build. This book is a must-have for every tracker's library.

Good and comprehensive guide, a little difficult
It is a good and comprehensive guide, it has a lot of animal tracks, I found it a good and complete guide, but honestly sometimes I had a lot of difficult tryng to find some kind of tracks that I found.

In my personal opinion I think that this is a very good book for experts on the field but not so good for beginners in animal tracks. And by the way it doesnt have any color illustration, and altough they are not needed I was very familiar with peterson guides and this one is a little different.

A very useful guide
My wife and I have found this guide to be very useful in interpreting the sign left behind by the creatures resident in our northeastern woods, not only tracks but scat as well (with hundreds of detailed drawings of scat it is as much a guide to those leavings as tracks). The extensive behavioral descriptions are equally useful. I am not clear on the basis for the criticisms contained in the other review concerning animal harassment. Dr. Murie was a dedicated conservationist and President of The Wilderness Society after his retirement from the Fish and Wildlife Service and his respect for the creatures he is describing is evident on every page. While he acknowledges that some tracks were obtained from live-trapped animals, it is clear from the book that the overwhelming mass of the data is from direct field observation from a life spent in the outdoors.

good book
very down to earth. dos'nt go into detail

earliest version of tracking, collected specimens to study
Interesting way in which early biologists studied animals. Should have a foreword explaining that methods in book are not recommended to observe wildlife (trapped to collect specimens and harrassed wildlife in order to study their behavior). ... Read more

Book Description

In this first-of-its-kind study, biologists, animal trainers, and behaviorists offer proof of animal emotions. Their findings prompt fresh ideas about human-animal interaction. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Emotions for all
In this book, the authors Masson and McCarthy compile thoughtful and deeply educational stories that demonstrate the presence of emotions in non-human animals. Throughout the book these two authors draw from numerous stories and experiences that range from love to jealousy, to hate and compassion to convey to the reader the capacity of animals to experience emotions and feelings. One would expect such a book that is predominantly based on secondary information to be less informative and lack the knowledge to deliver a quality piece of writing. However Masson and McCarthy are able to communicate the controversial subject of the emotional lives of species other than are own, in a crystal clear manner.
The book delivers intelligent arguments that force the reader to pry deeper into the idea that animals do in fact have emotions. If emotions such as joy, grief, fear, and hope are able to cross cultural boundaries, why shouldn't it be plausible for these very same emotions to cross an interspecies boundary as well? By viewing animals as simple species that are incapable to feel and understand their emotions; we are robbing them of their capacity to be equal with the human race. The book continues to deliver the idea of a "double standard" that humans have developed when it comes to ethical treatment; and finds the route of this problem to be deeply imbedded in the minds of our civilization. Descartes has referred to animals as senseless machines, incapable of emotions and feelings, but is countered by Masson and McCarthy.
"To describe the lives of animals without including their emotions may be just inaccurate, just as superficial and distorted and may strip them of their wholeness just as profoundly. To understand animals, it is essential to understand what they feel." (Masson 23)

By delivering a variety of stories about different animals ranging from butterfly fish to elephants, When Elephants Weep is able to show the large spectrum of feelings that animals have been known to experience in their own existence. It does however bring to light one of the most worrisome and critical aspects of animal emotions: the idea of anthropomorphism. "Science considers anthropomorphism toward animals a grave mistake, even a sin," (Masson 32) states Masson. Reflecting human emotions on to individual animals changes the way in which mankind views other species, and in essence takes away their individuality as separate beings. We may think that a dog is happy, yet we have no capacity to feel the feelings and emotions that a dog has ever experienced. "Anthropocentrism treats animals as inferior forms of people and denies what they really are." (Masson 42) Being the controversial subject that it is, anthropomorphism has its pros and cons, and is constantly the focus when it comes to behavioral analysis in animals.
Once the topic of anthropomorphism is discussed and dissected, the book continues on to its primary focus which is the actual existence of emotions in non-human animals. Littered with short, second hand stories that have been collected through the century; each emotion that is known to humans is applied to animals in a variety of ways. Love and friendship between chimpanzees; grief and mourning of elephant herds, as well as jealousy through gray parrots; these are just an example of the broad range of emotions that span through the natural world of animals. This book does something that most books about animals cannot do; it portrays them not as savage beasts but as highly delicate and meaningful creatures that are more evolved emotionally than once believed. One unique story that is told is that of the trap-door spider and their capacity to love.
"Moggridge shook the baby spiders off her back and dropped her into the alcohol. After a while, supposing her to be "dead to sense," he dropped her twenty-four babies in too. To his horror, the mother spider reached out her legs, folded the babies beneath her, and clasped them until she died." (Masson 68)
Many other stories are told throughout the pages, some sad, and portray animals as humans, while other stories distinctly draw the line between humans and animals.
If animals are able to feel shouldn't society acknowledge this and treat them accordingly. It once thought that the ability to cry was a human trait, and only a human trait. As a habit, most people consider bodily fluids disgusting (such as urine, feces, etc.), but embrace the concept of tears and crying. The reason for this mindset was because it was an action that only humans had the capability of performing. Mason proves otherwise through the stories of a particular elephant. "Okha does cry at times, but that he had no idea why. Okha sometimes shed a tear when being scolded, it is reported, and at least once wept while giving children rides." (Masson 106) This does not just end with the idea of elephants crying and shedding tears, but also delivers stories of poodles, apes, and seals crying in painful or distressful situations. Not only does the topic of animals weeping relate directly to the title of this book, it demonstrates that other species besides humans are capable of a multitude of emotions.
Another major topic that is brought up is that of zoos and animals being imprisoned by them. When a human is put behind bars, they feel lonely and an aurora of despair and depression overtakes them; the same emotions have been found in animals. Many studies have been conducted to see if animals do in fact have these emotions. There is a story that tells the tale of a monkey who was put in a black isolation chamber for six months and then placed in a cage with other monkeys who were left to socialize during the six month time period. Once the isolated monkey was placed with the others, it immediately ran into the corner and embraced itself and was assaulted by his mates until the monkey perished away. These studies in fact are a lot like zoos; the animals cannot enjoy their abilities, a function that is labeled as "funktionslust". A cheetah may appear to be happy in an enclosed pasture, however it does not have the freedom to sprint for miles or to hunt and reproduce under its own terms. What happens now that it has been revealed that we share many human attributes with animals; is it time we stop their suffering, is time we discontinue using them as a food resource? Masson is still unclear about this. Has the time finally arrived where we as a society have realized that we hold no dominion over animals and that they are in fact equal to us in the field of emotions, or shall we just imprison more species behind the steal cages we call zoos.

I enjoyed reading this book and only have a slight criticism of this book. I would have liked to read more about the stories that are touched upon rather than have them summarized in a few sentences. Masson and McCarthy touch on some amazing accounts of animals exhibiting truly unique emotional qualities that could be better understood if detailed more. I have also realized that perhaps testing on animals is not the best way to learn their emotions, if in fact it is true that they share emotions with humans, why not test on humans themselves.

Captures your heart!
It's incredible how many people can believe that animals are without emotions. Every story that Moussaieff recounts in his book is further proof that humans are not authentic in their possession of emotions. The intensity of the examples portrayed envelops you and you only want to read more about the fascinating feelings that animals have. Any pet owner knows that animals can feel happiness or sadness, but Moussaieff is out to prove to the skeptics that besides those two, there are scores of other emotions that dwell in the hearts of animals. I highly recommend this book to anybody, especially if you love animals or heartwarming anecdotes. I also dare anyone to read this book and still be convinced that animals do not feel things such as contentment, grief, shame, pride, anger, or jealousy.

a thoughtful book on a difficult subject
In the scientific community, "anthropomorphism" (assigning human qualities to inanimate ojects or animals) is villified to an astonishing degree. Masson has bravely written a book which contains stories of animals interacting with members of their own species and also with humans, stories that definitely would indicate emotion to any sensible person. Unfortunately, emotion in animals cannot be proven, because they cannot talk (with the notable exception of Koko the signing gorilla and Alex the parrot). And because animals-as-objects are important to research and industry, this is a subject that no one wants to touch. Although at times the writing in the book is somewhat bland, I recommend it and am grateful to people like Masson, Jane Goodall, and Marc Bekoff who are not afraid to bring this issue to the forefront.

Flawed But Worthwhile Exploration of an Important Subject
In "When Elephants Weep", author Jeffrey Moussaief Masson attempts to demonstrate that humans are far from being the only animals to lead complex emotional lives. If someone wanted to make a case for animal rights, it would probably have a greater chance of success if it were based on animal intelligence, as that is much easier to prove and quantify than emotions. But there is already a body of literature on animal intelligence, and many researchers continue to pursue an understanding in that area. This is why Jeffrey Masson has written a book on animal emotions. It is a topic that is very much underrepresented in literature, probably because the idea of animal emotions is much vilified in the scientific community. The content of "When Elephants Weep" comprises, almost entirely, evidence of the existence of emotions -some primitive, some complex- in animals other than humans. Most of the evidence is anecdotal, although there are some examples of controlled studies as well. Most of the emotions that are discussed fit into these broad categories: fear, hope, love, sadness, grief, rage, compassion, shame, aesthetic appreciation, and a sense of justice. Apart from the evidence presented, the text contains a lot of criticism of the scientific community's staunch reluctance to acknowledge the existence of emotions in animals on the basis that any such idea would be anthropomorphic. But the fact is that the scientific community can no more prove the existence of emotions in humans than it can in animals. And it will not be able to do so until it possesses the technology to identify and detect the neuropathways responsible for emotions. Until then, we accept that humans have emotions based on their behavior and our own experience. The author believes it perfectly reasonable to acknowledge the emotional lives of animals for the same reasons. The quality of the writing itself in "When Elephants Weep" is not especially good, but I do recognize that it is very difficult to produce a pleasant and engaging writing style when one is simply cataloging a lot of data. And the author occasionally does seem to be imagining emotions where they could not possibly exist. But I give this book 4 stars and recommend it because it tackles an important subject that we read about all too little. And, despite its faults, readers will come away from this book having learned a lot about the lives of animals. If you need more encouragement, Dr. Jane Goodall has given the book high praise.

Pseudo-scientific nonsense
A great disappointment! The author proposes to prove that animals have a rich emotional range that humans can understand and interact with, but offers no rigorous evidence whatever! His argument is to repeat again and again assertions along the lines of "People who work with animals a LOT will certainly tell you that animals really do experience emotions". Well, there it is: the whole book in a nutshell. Anyone hoping for revealing research and authoritative insights will be left wanting. What drivel! Save your money and watch some pop-expose on E! instead -- it'll be more engaging and far more scientific. ... Read more

Book Description

Retaining the introductory flavor of the now classic First Edition, this revision includes all the latest techniques in the field. New information on methods of radio tag harnessing, new sections on satellite tracking techniques and new types of data analysis are all included. Still the only comprehensive, up-to-date, introduction to this fundamental technique for wildlife and behavioral biologists.

* A unique guide to the subject
* Full coverage of the very latest techniques in both terrestrial and satellite tracking
* Detailed, practical guidance in how to fit tags, track animals, source and evaluate equipments and techniques and analyse resulting data ... Read more

Book Description

Scientists call them Inia geoffrensis, an ancient species of toothed whale whose origin dates back about 15 million years. To the local people of the Amazon, pink river dolphins are "botos," shape shifters that, in the guise of human desire, can claim your soul and take you to the Encante, an enchanted underwater world.

As tributaries braid into a single river, Journey of the Pink Dolphins weaves ancient myth and modern science into one woman's search for these elusive creatures. Over four separate journeys, Sy Montgomery follows the dolphins, tracing their spiritual, historical, and environmental past, present, and future. Ancient legends tell us that dolphins have guided humans for millennia, and in Journey of the Pink Dolphins, Montgomery answers their call, taking us to that perfect place where the Amazon melts into the forest, dolphins swim among treetops, and the twenty-first century dissolves into the beginning of time. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Why haven't we heard this before?
I can't believe how many people (including myself) had never heard of freshwater dolphins before seeing this book. Why isn't there any information out there about these intriguing cousins of the saltwater dolphins that we all know and love? Well, now there is! And Sy Montgomery takes us deep into the habitat of the freshwater dolphins --- the Amazon (where, as she explains, there are trees and ants that can kill you, among many other things). She not only explores the life and biology of these dolphins, but she also explores some of the myths that surround them. She learns that many native Amazon peoples believe that these creatures can take the form of humans in their efforts to seduce women into their underwater world. She relates first hand accounts of these stories and myths. But the author doesn't stop there, she writes extensively about the atmosphere of the Amazon, the people, the ecosystem, the cultures, the tourists, the industries, etc... She provides alot of interesting information about a very unique subject. As I read the book, I felt as if I was being pulled into the Amazon. Her writing is clear and approachable, sometimes poetic, but other times drawn-out. There are some very insightful passages as well. And fascinating photographs are scattered throughout. I recommend this book to anyone interested in animals, conservation, adventure travel, aboriginal/native cultures and all those intrigued by the idea of a freshwater dolphin!

enchanting travelogue and work of natural history
I loved this book! Sy Montgomery is a talented writer, able to put you in exotic places with vivid descriptions, I almost felt I was in the Amazon. She really brought it to life, I look forward to reading another book of hers I have purchased, "Search for the Golden Moon Bear."

The book focuses on the author's quest for the pink dolphin, but really it is a journey to find not one but two dolphins. I don't refer to the other species of dolphin that lives in the Amazon, the tucuxis (one which she also covers in the book), but for two sides of the same animal. On the one hand she searches for the pink dolphin, the bufeo in Spanish or boto in Portguese, a living animal of which little is known about in comparison with many other dolphin species. Living in the most massive river system on earth, one connnected to innumerable lakes in the rainy season, in waters often black as coffee and infested with caimans, piranha, stingrays, and electric eels, in often very remote regions to which there is no reliable transportation to, it is a difficult subject to study. An example of cetaceans from an earlier geologic era, primitive when compared to modern oceanic dolphins, the pink dolphins preserve something from an eariler era, a holdover in the modern world. Montgomery and her various companions in the book struggle to get good observations of the dolphins, to try and track them, to identify individuals, to observe their behavior. The author finds that even experts who have studied the bufeo for years are often perplexed by them. She has many successes, providing much interesting information on them and a fine series of color photographs of the often startingly pink dolphins.

Montgomery though is also questing for the Encante, the mystical shape-shifting dolphin that is very real to many of the peoples who live along the mighty Amazon. Believed to exist in fabulous cities beneath the surface of the river, the locals speak in conspiratorial tones about the dolphins' magic powers and often lust for attractive humans. The natives often worry that their wives, husbands, sons, and daughters will be stolen about by the fabulous Encante, and speak with awe and reverence about the dolphins. Montgomery continually quests for the natives' views of the Encante, for their "true" tales, and for how they protect themselves against their fantastic attention.

Montgomery doesn't exlusively focus on dolphins though. Her book in part is a vivid travelogue of Amazonia, bringing us to many exotic locations. We visit Manaus, the impossible Paris of the Amazon, home to an opera house right out of a fairy tale. Built upon the backs of native jungle peoples by rubber barons, today it is a squalid city trying to embrace change. She takes us to amazing Meeting of the Waters, where for miles two tributies of the Amazon, the black River Negro and the white Solimoes, flow side by side before forming the true Amazon River. We are taken to two different nature reserves, both with differing strategies, Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo and Mamiraua, where some of the rich life and deadly beauty of Amazonia is preserved against an uncertain future. Montgomery takes us to the impossibly clear waters and white sandy beaches of the Tapajos and Arapiuns Rivers, where she actually swims with the dolphins, something not possible elsewhere in the dark and piranha-infested rivers elsewhere. She undertakes a vision quest by taking the hallucigenic Ayahuasca or "Mother of the Vine," something few Westerners have done (and for good reason).

Further, while the bufeo or boto is the star of the book, many other animals form a rich supporting cast. The odd hoatzin, a bird with claws, seemingly someting out of the Mesozoic. Electric eels, extremely common and suprisingly complex. Caimans, another seemingly prehistoric species. Amazonian manatees, gentle vegetarians that are much more intelligent than often given credit for. The weird side-necked turtle. All manner of insects, including ants. And more are given space.

Some have said that she rhapsodizes too much in the book, but I disagree. She has done her research, the book is filled with interviews with experts, and there is a nice bibliography at the end. She has skillfully combined hard science with poetry, and the effort is very worthwhile. I highly recommend it.

Fascinating but Frustrating
As someone who's interested in the Amazon, its people, culture, geography, fauna, flora and other subjects, I read this book for its fascinating topic. However, this is a very mixed bag. There are moving sections, as when she describes the genocide perpetrated against the native peoples by Europeans (you would not believe the atrocities and torture they visited the Indians, whom they considered lower than animals - much worse in its ferocity than the Holocaust of WWII). The writing can be quite bad at times (at one point, her powers of description comes up with a fruit she tried, "bitter as semen"). But the worse is, she seems to be a very bad science writer and researcher. Who edited this book? Certainly not people versed in science or Portuguese. She gets everything in Portuguese wrong. The scientific names and terms are often misspelled. Proceed with caution.

Amazonian vacation
This is one of those books to read when you don't have the money and/or time to actually travel the planet. I enjoyed that Sy both had a grasp of biology and is a truly talented author. She also obviously cares about the socioeconomic situation of the peoples who live in the area that her biological studies took her. This book transports you into a magical world in which pink dolphins inhabit rivers in a mystical jungle. Sometimes the truth is better than fiction.

This book corks my blowhole
To the author: Let me get this straight: You applied with a flimsy pretext to go observe dolphins, to "find the soul" of the Amazon. (Funny how no one writes about the search for the soul of New Jersey. It's always someplace that increases the aspirant's status as interpreter. The Amazon has been prostituted since its discovery, even BEFORE its discovery --in myth; why you suppose your frothy rehash is anything but the same extractivist, exoticizing discourse the West uses to plunder the source-country Americas, is a mystery.) Where was I? Oh, yes. Then you repeat your tourist guides by rote -The rubber barons sent their laundry to Europe, the Meeting of the Waters, so many football fields destroyed, blah blah blah, we know already. Then, not knowing an iota of Portuguese (or lingua geral, better still), you take on underlings to ferry you around and see to your comfort. So there's garbage in the ports? --Any idea where that comes from?
Then, do you acknowledge your privileged vantage? -in one line, yes, you note that tourists can do harm to the very area they wish to see. Would that that stopped you! Then you take Ayahuasca, the cosmological and neurological Virgil of the indigenes and caboclos, and this is the unreal part, you do it to summon dolphin spirits! Sacred vine as recreational trophy for bourgeois day-trippers. Then, as a capper, you relate a slumber party of your half-researched blatherings --endless second- and third-hand accounts of fables, offering no links, context, etymologies, insights to speak of (for example, at one point you tell us the Iquitos prostitutes used to file their teeth like piranhas', but then you don't SPECULATE or reflect critically at all on why that is. Does it have to do with the degradation of women in Latin America or some of kind of reversal of the dynamics of erotic conquests (a topic apropos of your ladykiller/dolphin)? What is the relationship and affective connection of the animal kingdom in general to the Amazonians? Do THEY care about dolphins? (Why not, if not?) Does that effect their ecology? Should WE care about them, besides for the fact they're pretty? What link are they in the river food chain? What of a discussion --in passing at least-- of the complicated politics of First-World ideas of conservation vs. their making a living? Too many things are given unproblematically or unreflectively in this book. And by the way, speaking English deliberately in front of Amazonian river people is RUDE, not to mention paternalistic.
To the editor: Many books about the Amazon are hyperinflated, breathless, and rhetorical by far. They should be purged of HALF of their adjectives. And virtually ALL their adverbs (e.g. here, "dazzingly" , "unimaginably" and for God's sake, "unfathomably".) Where is your blue pencil on sentences like "[We] wanted the same thing: to save this toweringly cruel and nourishing dawn world from fading to twilight." (p. 245)?
Also, virtually all the Portuguese in the book is wrong, save one or two phrases.
To the bookseller: File this under "d" for "dilletanterie".
To the reader: Go find Candace Slater's Dance of the Dolphin instead, which offers real field research.
To Oprah's Book Club: You gotta get this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Despite our reverence for wildlife, many of our most favorite species raise havoc in lawns and gardens from city to suburbia. This book solves backyard problems with squirrels, raccoons, deer, crows, insects and a host of other "pests" who raid backyard bird feeders and garbage cans, nest in chimneys, eat shrubbery, dig holes and tunnels in lawns, and attack garden foliage. George H. Harrison, award-winning nature writer, photographer, book author and consultant in the field of nature and outdoors, provides a natural history of squirrels and other problem critters so that readers can better understand the enemy. Topics covered include squirrels and deer raiding bird feeders, eating shrubbery and carrying Lyme disease; woodpeckers drilling holes in siding and roofs; rabbits destroying young trees, shrubs and other cultivated lawn plants; ticks, yellowjackets, wasps and ants biting, stinging and dominating sugar water feeders meant for hummingbirds; bears; raccoons; and more. Informative tips, devices and methods are explained that will lead to a peaceful coexistence with all animals, great and small. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

a truly honest and practical guide
Finally, someone has published a guide to dealing with my backyard foes. For years, master gardners, nursery workers, etc. have told me there was absolutely nothing I could do to protect my flowerbeds and bird feeders from squirrels, pesky birds and roaming cats. After reading this book, I know what works and what doesn't. This book not only tells me what to do, I now have some good insight into what's going on in the minds of those little critters (I wish more authors would do this). Yeah!!

My only complaint: the title is a little misleading. I got this book so I could deal with squirrels. This book covers many more backyard critters than squirrels such as cats, crows, deer, raccoons, and so on.

Squirrel Wars Too?
An invaluable book for any homeowner who's ever had problems with squirrels (enemy number one), rabbits, racoons, skunks, possums, deer, cats, rats, dogs, even birds, etc. Each section is dedicated to solving a problem with your animal of choice. And that's just it. It could have easily been called "skunk wars" or any other "animal wars" mentioned in this book. I guess he chose squirrels because they seem to be the most persistant animals to invade our backyard. They are truly clever. However, there's another "Squirrel Wars" book that deals with squirrels only, written in 1996, and the author's attempt to outwit them from raiding his birdfeeders. It's funny and serious. I highly recommend both Squirrel Wars. Enjoy while learning.

"Must" reading for backyard gardeners & wildlife enthusiasts
Many favorite wildlife species wreck havoc on backyard gardens: Squirrel Wars tells how to solve a range of problems, from birds which raid bird feeders and squirrels which are geniuses at food to creatures which nest in chimneys and dig holes in lawns. Deer, squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, skunks and opossums are covered, with some remedies more effective than others.

Great Book
this was a great book, hilarious funny, its very true ... Read more

Reviews (68)

One of the most important philosophy books ever written
Want to upset all the pre-conceptions of your life, and look at the world around you in a radically new way? Then read Peter Singer's book Animal Liberation. Written by an Australian philosophy professor in the 1970s, and revised in the early 1990s, Animal Liberation is the founding book of the modern animal rights movement. As such, Animal Liberation be one of the most influential books of the 20th century.

When Singer's book first appeared, animal rights was on the fringe of the fringe. Animal rights advocates, to the extent that they could get any attention from the press at all, were treated as a bunch of nuts. CBS Evening News compared British animal rights advocates to Monty Python charachters.

But today, especially among young people, animal rights is a major part of political and social activism. So even if you think you're inflexibly opposed to animals having rights, Singer's book will help you understand the millions of people who disagree with you.

Folks who believe that animals have no rights will often assert that because animals are animals, they should have no rights. As Singer points out, the argument is simply a tautology. To say that animals should have no rights because they are animals is no more logical than to say that women should not have rights because they are women, or that Blacks should have no rights because they are Blacks. To say that status as a woman must, in itself, imply that women have no rights is sexism; to say the same about Blacks is racism. And, Singer demonstrates, to say the same about animals is "specisim."

Interestingly, when reformers in the late 18th century began arguing that Blacks should not be enslaved merely because of of their race, pro-slavery advocates had an immediate reply: Arguments which questioned the subordination of Blacks could also be used to question the subordination of women, and the subordination of animals. The defenders of slavery had a point, notes Singer. Once you knock out one kind of subordination, it's harder to defend the subordination that remains.

So if simplistic speciesism is an insufficient basis for denying animals rights, what logical justification is there for current treatment of animals?

It is true, of course, that animals can't do lots of things that humans can, such as write, build complex tools, or describe a religious belief system. But if you compare a profoundly retarded child with one of the higher primates, the primate may have much more advanced skills in the traits that we consider human (such as use of language or tools) than does the profoundly retarded child.

If we acknowledge that the retarded child has rights, then what philosophically plausible claim can be made that the primate does not?

The best test for rights, argues Singer, is a test first articulated by the 19th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham: "Can it suffer?" If you saw someone using an electric cattle prod to torture an adult human, you would say that the person's rights were being violated. If the severely retarded child were being tortured, you would likewise say that the child's rights were being violated. And because gorillas, dogs, and eagles also feel intense pain when being attacked with electric cattle prods, their rights are likewise violated when they are tortured. In contrast, trees and rocks do not feel pain, as far as we know, and therefore using a cattle prod on a rock is merely a waste of electricity, and not the violation of rights on the part of the rock.

"How can you tell that animals feel pain?" is one rejoinder to the argument above. The theory that animals are mere automotons, and have no more feeling than does a clock, was first articulated by the French philosopher Rene Descartes.

In reply, Singer points out that: First of all, animals react in a manner which we would expect from a being in pain -- they scream, and they try to avoid the source of the pain. Second, all of the evidence we have regarding the nervous system of animals shows that their pain-sensing capacity is structurally similar to the pain-sensing portion of the nervous system in humans.

Having set up a philosophical basis for animal rights, Singer then examines current treatment of animals by humans, to see if violations of rights are involved.

Singer's approach has no sentimentalism about animals in it. He describes his disgust as meeting a woman who gushed "Don't you just love animals!" -- and then offered him a ham sandwich.

The book's discussion of factory farming of animals is particularly powerful. He describes how almost all of the chickens, pigs, and cattle that end up in a supermarket meat tray are subjected to squalid conditions of confinement that can be described as torture. Chickens are confined in cages too small even to lift a wing, and cages are stacked on top of each other so that the top chickens' feces fall on the ones below. To deal with the high death rates that result from these disgusting conditions, the animals are pumped full of high doses of antibiotics

A book that can change your life!
Animal Liberation is an extremely well written account regarding laboratory testing on animals and cruelty involved with factory farming. Singer writes about cruelty inflicted on animals in laboratory testing through the eyes of researchers and scientists who have been awoken morally to the reality of what they are doing to our fellow animals. He also writes a detailed account of the cruelty on modern factory farms and how the meat produced from these 'sanctuaries of pain' is becoming more rotten. A very strong case is made for becoming a vegetarian not only for moral reasons, but for environmental and health reasons as well. Animal Liberation is the most important work in the field of animal rights and moral equality for the other animals with which we share the earth. This book is a must read for anyone with a conscience (which for the world's sake should be every human). This is an inspirational work with the power to change your life and the way you perceive the world around us. I was a sceptic before reading thiis book, and almost put it down after the first 20 pages, but I am glad I did not.

The Reasons for Animal Liberation
I remember passing by a banner at my college that said "Why does your love for animals stop at dogs and cats?" a couple of months ago. Ever since I saw that banner, I've had a different way of looking at non-human animals. I decided to pick up this book a few days later and I can honestly say that my lifestyle and thinking has dramatically changed because of it.

Animal Liberation is a call to everyone to help stop, or at least drastically limit, the cruel mass-practices of animal testing and factory farming. Singer makes very persuasive arguements against both of the aforementioned practices and describes the punishment (many of it hard to even read about) animals have gone through simply to test our products (especially cosmetics) and fill our appetites.

The book is aptly titled Animal Liberation because animals need to be freed from man's dominance over them. I completely agree with Singer's path to "animal liberation" which consist of a change in mindset and a change in diet. One of the strongest arguements in the book is how Singer compares animals' condition to former practices of human bondage. We as humans seem to deem animals as inferior, means to our ends, and usable, just as masters viewed their captives. But animals cannot rise up and march peacefully in numbers, speak for their freedom, and take action. It is our ethical duty to grant them their rights as sentient (able to feel pain, fear, and other emotions) beings.

After reading Animal Liberation I was appalled. I really had no idea the situation was this bad. The book is an excellent read; it's arguements are clear, humane, and ultimately, right. I can gladly say that this book has changed my diet (vegetarian), lifestyle, and outlook on things nonhuman.

The bible of Animal Rights,and this from a former carnivore!
No matter what anyone thinks of Mr. Singers other philosophical opinions it is hard to refute the arguments in this book regarding the way in which we treat animals. Singer is so convincing that, although Utilitarian himself, he usually relies on more general well accepted ethical principles to justify his arguments.
To all the people who have read the book and disagree I ask this: Is there nothing wrong with me slowly toturing a cat if that is how I get my jollies? Of course the answer is Yes. It would take a cold heart indeed to say that torturing a cat is no worse than breaking a inanimate rock into two. So torturing a cat (or dog, or cow etc.) for fun is wrong, we can agree. Now, let us say that I don't like torturing the cat but I do like a certain noise the cat makes when I torture it. I can only make the cat make this noise when I torture it. And I'll even grant that I REALLY like this noise, it gives me a great deal of pleasure. Is it now OK for me to torture the cat to retrieve my desired noise. NO. Of course not. In fact most people would rightly say that this is just as bad as torturing the cat just to torture it. Next let's imagine that I can't bear to torture cats on my own but, I still want that noise! So, I pay a guy to torture the cat for me and then tape record the noise and deliver it to me. And since I get sick after one listening, I have him do this over and over again. Is this wrong? Of course. Common sense (and any reputable moral theory)says that it's just as bad as tortuing the cat in the first place. If you have agreed with the argument so far you wont be hard to persuade when you read Singer's great book for as he tells us, this process is exactly what we do to animals in order to eat them! We pay people to torture them (given the macroeconomic scale in which they must be produced, extremely torturous enviroments are inevitable) and then deliver the "food" to us. It's just wrong. And to those people who say that "since they can't be moral themselves why should we treat them morally?" I ask, "would it be alright to torture babies or severly mentally retarded people?" Both these groups can not engage morally but both would be wrong to make suffer.
---These are the kind of revelations that occur page by page in Animal Liberation. If you are a devout carnivore, as I was, I promise that after reading this book you will realize that there are still more important things in the world then the momentarlily satisfactions of the palate. Read it!

a most important read
This book changed my life ... Read more

Book Description

Professional wildlife care and rehabilitation for a general audience. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

By two expert and licensed wildlife rehabilitators
Now in its third and updated edition, Wildlife Care For Birds And Mammals is a straightforward, how-to manual to care for and assist injured wild animals, written and presented by two expert and licensed wildlife rehabilitators, Dale Carlson and Irene Ruth. Direct and to-the-point instructions, enhanced with black-and-white illustrations by Hope M. Douglas, showing the reader just what to do to help baby ducks, birds, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, and squirrels that are lost, injured, attacked by pets or otherwise in trouble. From treating wounds to care and feeding and procedures for release, Wildlife Care For Birds And Mammals is a very highly recommended and thoroughly "user friendly" guide.

Price Does Not Fit the Quality
Informative but rather elementary. I was disappointed with theamount of information and quality of the actual book itself. ...product doesnt fit the price.

"Good introduction to rehabilitation"
"Informative and to the point...ethical...wonderful illustrating...good introduction to rehabilitation...well-organized, quick to look through." NWRA Quarterly ... Read more

Reviews (57)

If only this were a bestseller...
There'd be alot less hell for animals out there. Until now, I'd read other horror stories about the treatment of livestock from the workers, and was disgusted thinking there are actually people out there with attitudes like that, but this book opened my eyes to how the workers are being mistreated and, unfortunately, take out their frustration on the farm animals. Another testament to how people use and abuse animals and there's hardly anyone noticing, Gail Eisnitz's "Slaughterhouse" is disturbing, but also educating and stimulating to make a move and take action to change laws and regulations in the U.S. meat industry. This book is an absolute MUST READ to anyone who eats meat or cares about animals or their own well-being from the meat they consume. A striking look into human greed, concience and ignorance towards anything other than us, I recommend "Slaughterhouse" to all.

Must Read Account of the Danger of Eating Meat
Here is a book so shocking and unbelievable I had to corroborate some of the extensive research for myself. I found myself shaking my head in disbelief on every page. While I was able to corroborate the statistics on disease and the "after hours" slaughter activity, the animal treatment issues were more difficult. In fact, when you search for "inhumane" on the USDA website, you'll get NO hits - a further testimony to Ms. Eisnitz story of the coverup and corruption that exists in the agency. The story exposes what is true in so many industries - collusion between businessmen and politicians for the benefit of the personal gain of a few at the expense of many people and in this case, animals as well. With all of the reasons not to eat animal products, this books clinches the case. Certainly, anyone who learns about the dangers of doing so from this book would have to reconsider their diet. And any parent would never let their children eat meat again.

Gail A. Eisnitz is a Modern Day Heroine
Gail A. Eisnitz is one of the bravest, brighest lights on this planet. I recently had the privilige of meeting and interviewing her and was immensely impressed and inspired by her unflinching dedication to tell the truth about what's taking place in America's slaughterhouses. For an update on Gail's work, please visit www.hfa.org, the website of the Humane Farming Organization.

I am a yoga teacher and I wish that all yoga teachers and their students would read this book. The great yoga masters through the ages urge us to consider all aspects of our lives and to revere all living things. Yoga addresses the ethical life through a whole range of practices that encourage us to live in harmony with nature, which includes how we treat animals.

The practice of yoga is rooted in the principle of "ahimsa" (non-violence). The great yoga masters teach that "The yogi believes that every creature has as much right to live as he has. He believes he is born to help others and he looks upon creation with the eyes of love." The yogi knows that his life is linked inextricably with other living things. A complete, holistic yoga practice encompasses a way of life that addresses the harm we inflict on animals.

If you love animals and want to do your share to ease their suffering, please read SLAUGHTERHOUSE and purchase extra copies for your friends. To me, Gail A. Eisnitz is a modern day heroine who embodies the qualities of a compassionate yogini. I applaud and support her work with all my heart and soul and cannot recommend her book too highly.

Suza Francina R.Y.T., author, The New Yoga for People Over 50 and Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause.
Former mayor, Ojai, California.

All To Real
In 1989, Gail Eisnitz recieved a letter from Timothy Walker, a well known whistleblower. His letter stated that he has first hand knowledge that a slaughterhouse (Kaplan Industries) was skinning live cattle. At first, she didn't know what to believe so she called the USDA. A USDA inspector called her back with the findings: no cattle were being skinned alive at Kaplan.
She decides to contact Walker by phone. When asked how he knew that Kaplan was skinning live cows, he stated that he was a USDA employee. He begins to tell Eisnitz a few more details.
In the US alone, over one hundred and one million pigs are slaughtered each year. Thirty seven million cattle and calves, more than four million horses, goats and sheep and over eight BILLION chickens and turkeys are killed.

Millions of chickens leaking yellow pus, stained green feces, contaminated by harmful bacteria and tumors are shipped for sale to customers.

At a Perdue plant, there is so much fecal contamination on the floor from chickens that it leaked into a workers boots and burned his feet so badly that his toenails had to be amputated. The company won't even allow workers to leave the line to go to the bathroom so they relieve themselves on the floor. Sometimes the chickens that are hung, fall to the floor that is covered with roaches, feces and blood. The chickens that fall aren't even washed off before being hung back up on the line. One worked said that he "saw flies on the chicken as it went down the line and maggots in boxes which contained bags that the chickens would be wrapped in." Occasionally, maggots were ground up with everything else and remained in the final product.

This is disturbing, and it should be. I hope that those who read this book will do something. Write to your senator or member of parliament, stop eating meat or even distribute this book among friends. Just do something. These are animals. They feel pain just like you do. Would you allow this to happen to a dog or cat? They why allow it to happen to farm animals.
This is a book that everyone needs to read. A lot of people believe or like to believe that their dinner arrived on their plate humanely. People need to know about wrongdoings like this. It's inhumane and it's wrong, plain and simple.

Literally - clean your plate!
Ms.Eisnitz has convinved me that the principals that drive successful businesses are at work in our food supply to nefarious ends. While driving down costs and improving productivity may be laudable in the production of wigets, in the killing and "cleaning" of our meats, these ends are set to produce an epidemic of deadly pathogens and diseased foods. The recent mad cow scare has hopefully produced the publicity this book and others of its ilk have long sought. The USDA has proven to be impotent and having cattlemen assoc. leaders overseeing production is insanity.A very insightful read. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Someone's got to be top dog
People forget that dogs do have a lot of the wolf in them. Pack structure is extremely important. If one of the owners is not top dog (Alpha) then the dog will take it upon himself to be the Alpha. Even small dogs have attitude. That does not mean you rule him with an iron fist. It all comes down to discipline. This book tries to illustrate dominance in a non physical way. Very helpful if you have a dog with attitude (big or small) and want to work with him and overcome some of your training difficulties. Any dog with an uncontrolled dominating attitude is a liability. Some owners have the best intentions, but when they become lax in their training and their dog gets "attitude" they are fearful of trying to work it out. Sometimes YOU have to be an Alpha every day if you want to keep your dog. All dogs are not Lassie and sometimes owners forget that training is a lifetime commitment. It's not over in 1 year. With a dominant dog you must constantly be in charge. And for some people maybe owning a dominant dog or a dog like a rottie or Shepherd shouldn't be for them. Vigilance is the key.

The answer to an obedience trainer/behaviorist's prayer
This book is the most succinct, well-written treatise in print on what is takes to own a dog. A previous review of this book criticized it because it discusses the dog's ancestry to the wolf and ignored the years of domestication of dogs. The wolf ancestry of domestic dogs cannot be ignored when owning a dog. Alot of people are not meant to be dog owners or should only own certain breeds. This book delivers critical information on behaviorism. We teach dog training using Karen Pryor's technique's of positive reinforcement, but this alone is not enough to be a successful dog owner. Owning a dog is a lot of work and owning a rottweiler is not the same as owning a golden retriever. People must understand the canine psyche and be equipped with the knowledge of how to demonstrate pack leadership over a dog, along with training, in order to have a 'good dog'. Pack leadership is needed along with the principles of positive reinforcement to elicit good canine behavior. One is not a replacement for the other. This book is required reading for the beginner dog class. It equips the students with the knowledge of canine behaviorism they need. Every dog owner should have this book. Every potential dog owner should read this book and use it to decide if they are meant to be a dog owner. It is an excellent book.

Excellent!!!
This book is excellent, especially for first time dog owners. I have a very stubborn Boxer/American Bulldog puppy that just would not do things when told. This book has really help us out, especially with are walks. I would recommend this book to anyone with obedience training as well. It is worth every dollar spent.

Dominance isn't everything
The most important thing about this book is that it helps readers (as do other books of its ilk) understand the world through dogs' eyes. Some of the biggest problems that arise among dogs and their owners stem from owners' human-centered perceptions of canine behavior. We love to ascribe human motivations and dispositions to our dogs - this makes us feel like they are even more a part of our family (I know plenty of childless people, for example, who treat their pets, which are clearly surrogate children, exactly like human parents treat their own offspring). So, books that give us a "dog's eye view" on the human world are essential for promoting good pet-human relations.

On the other hand, I think any book that focuses so much attention on dominance relations as central to the lives of dogs (and I'm not denying that they are very important), itself falls victim to anthropocentrism, and, more specifically, ethnocentrism. American society feeds on the myth that people who eat first, control interactions, maintain a dominant posture, go first, control their space and possessions, are aggressive towards outsiders, and exude confidence and, well, social dominance, SHOULD be leaders. In truth, this is only one model for human leadership and it may not be the only model used in dog society either.

On a related note, one of the reviewers below claims authoritatively that dogs don't have a neocortex.

CORRECTION: Dogs DO have a neocortex. Humans (and other primates) have a larger neocortex with greater surface area, but they are not the only creature blessed with the faculties that a neocortex affords. The reviewer who made this claim is attracted, for whatever reasons, to literature and folklore that identify a clear boundary between humans and the rest of animal-kind. However, like it or not, neurological research shows us that this boundary is fuzzy at best.

Anthropocentric worldviews abound and we should take them all with a grain of kibble!

Must read
I babysit dogs in my home.
This book is an excellent source for anyone who works or plays with more than one dog. It is extremely accurate on how dogs think/don't think, and then behave. It is an excellent source for a new dog owner or one that has had a dog for years.

If you do not understand what is explained in this book, then do not expect your dog to understand how to behave around people and other dogs that are not already a part of your household; nor how to conduct itself at a babysitters. And everyone needs a dog sitter eventually.

In addition, understanding the breed you have/want is key to being a leader of the pack. The book gives great examples of how seemingly harmless behavior on our part can have drastic consequences for our dog(s), and these outcomes affects different breeds. ... Read more

Book Description

"In our ever more crowded and interconnected world, a vast menagerie of microorganisms travels incessantly from animals to humans, as well as from one human to another. During this movement, the microbes can mutate, and this makes animals an important reservoir for generating human disease. Beasts of the Earth provides an engaging tour through history that demonstrates how the microbes that emerge can change our lives: from their effect on the fall of the Roman Empire to the latest SARS outbreak."—Bruce Alberts, president, National Academy of Sciences

"This important book provides a novel perspective on the current and future status of human disease. Highly recommended."—Joanne P. Webster, Ph.D., reader in parasite epidemiology, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London

"This book brings a very important subject to our attention—the never-ending emergence of new human diseases . . . in every instance defying our predictions, in every instance reminding us of the complexity of our world, in every instance challenging our capacity to prevent and control the threat."—Frederick A. Murphy, D.V.M., Ph.D., distinguished professor, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis

"This book is a wonderful combination of very readable scientific and historical underpinnings of past and present epidemics of the spread of diseases from animals to people."—Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D., director, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, Washington, D.C.

Humans have lived in close proximity to other animals for thousands of years. Recent scientific studies have even shown that the presence of animals has a positive effect on our physical and mental health. People with pets typically have lower blood pressure, show fewer symptoms of depression, and tend to get more exercise.

But there is a darker side to the relationship between animals and humans. Animals are carriers of harmful infectious agents and the source of a myriad of human diseases. In recent years, the emergence of high-profile illnesses such as AIDS, SARS, West Nile virus, and bird flu has drawn much public attention, but as E. Fuller Torrey and Robert H. Yolken reveal, the transfer of deadly microbes from animals to humans is neither a new nor an easily avoided problem.

Beginning with the domestication of farm animals nearly 10,000 years ago, Beasts of the Earth traces the ways that human-animal contact has evolved over time. Today, shared living quarters, overlapping ecosystems, and experimental surgical practices where organs or tissues are transplanted from non-humans into humans continue to open new avenues for the transmission of infectious agents. Other changes in human behavior like increased air travel, automated food processing, and threats of bioterrorism are increasing the contagion factor by transporting microbes further distances and to larger populations in virtually no time at all.

While the authors urge that a better understanding of past diseases may help us lessen the severity of some illnesses, they also warn that, given our increasingly crowded planet, it is not a question of if but when and how often animal-transmitted diseases will pose serious challenges to human health in the future. ... Read more

Book Description

This invaluable guide - newly revised and enlarged due to popular demand - is intended for those concerned with the raising, care and maintenance of Angora goats. It supplies much useful, practical information on how to get started in the goat business, the facilities needed, the importance of record keeping, nutrition, shearing, marketing and, in the most detailed section, clear and precise guidance in recognising and dealing with the diseases and parasites which can afflict Angoras. This new and enlarded addition also provides additional fascinating historical facts about Angoras, a detailed explanation of the ins and outs of producing the increasingly popular colored Angoras, as well as - in the chapter entitled "Food for Thought" - a selection of succulent recipes for goat meat. ... Read more

Book Description

This essential guide to safety in the field features 90 venomous animals and more than 250 poisonous plants and fungi. The 340 line drawings make identification fast and simple; 160 species are also illustrated with color photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Essential to Everyone Outdoors
"Peterson's Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants" is the first thing to be packed in one's backpack.It is essential to every hiker, camper, naturalist, hunter, bird watcher and nature lover. There are a hell of alot less hazards than benign plants and animals (although this varies somewhat according to region. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US has it easy compared to the Southwest) and while most people could identify a few, it doesnt make sense not to learn the 2-3 dozen major ones to avoid.

The book is up to Peterson's usual high standards in a field guide. It covers mammals followed by poisonous plants, shrubs/trees, vines, ferns and fungi. There are color photographs but the black and white drawings are the way to go for IDing. Most people will not read the entire book unless they're a hardcore naturalist or really, really bored in front of a campfire. I recommend checking out the hazards in your partiualr area icluding AT LEAST the following: 1. All poisonous snakes and their look-a-likes 2. Black Widow and Brown Recluse spider 3. Tics and Scorpions 4. Bees, Wasps, Fire Ants 5. Poisonous Plants including the Big 3: Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac 6. Poisonous Mushrooms (not so you can learn which you can eat, but to understand the severity of eating just one wrong one)

There's alot that won't apply to you(save those for a rainy day) and some hazards are less hazardous than others. For example, the short-tail shrew is listed, but most people need not live in fear of "killer shrews". But knowing that their bite has some bite to it, maybe you'll avoid juggling those cute furry creatures. Also, large mammals aren't included, though bears and mountain lions can seem pretty hazardous to me in some situations.I recommend supplementing your reading with "Bear Aware" by Bill Schneider and "Mountain Lion Alert" by Steven Torres. In addition, I wouldn't trust this book solely to gather a gourmet wild mushroom feast, either. I've seen some books topping 1,000 pages on edible shrooms and they still might not be complete. Its best to leave the shrooms alone!
Finally, there are a few diseases found outdoors worth researching: Giardia, hantavirus, rabies, and lyme disease among others.

Also recommended: "Peterson's Wild Edible Plants" and "Medicinal Plants".

Before you know what's edible, know what'll kill you!
Before you dash out into the woods and pick some plants you think are edible, you might want to get this book and know definitely what will kill you, or really mess up your body. Excellent info, bright color pictures, and written for an easy understanding, this book should be in any nature enthusiast's library, right next to Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, possibly the best plant identification guide around.

i didn't know that!
did you know that boxwood, the ever present suburban hedge, is mildly poisonous? i didn't! a very useful book to reference for what not to touch, eat, or annoy. ... Read more

Book Description

For centuries wolves have haunted the human imagination. It has been accepted as conventional wisdom that they are savage predators, creatures of nightmare. Determined to overcome such misconceptions, Jim and Jamie Dutcher spent six years in a tented camp on the edge of the Idaho wilderness, living with and filming a pack of wolves. Now, in this breathtaking and lyrical memoir, the Dutchers share their experiences of life among these wondrous animals.

Wolves are so intelligent and elusive that theyalter their behavior when closely observed by humans. By socializing with the pack from the time they were pups, the Dutchers were able to gain the wolves' trust and observe their behavior in a way that few people ever have. What they witnessed was remarkable: a complex nature oriented toward family life, antic play, and strong social bonds.

Yet Wolves at Our Door is much more than a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a wildlife documentary, more than an exploration of animal behavior. It is the story of two people, brought together by their devotion to wildlife and held together by their belief in each other. It is about their struggle to keep the project alive amid marauding mountain lions, forest fires, subzero temperatures -- and the never-ending storm of controversy that surrounds the wolf.

The narrative ranges from humorous to heartbreaking and reveals some of the surprising intricacies of wolf behavior. By introducing us to the unforgettable Sawtooth Pack, Wolves at Our Door provides a window into the lives of these astonishing creatures and a fresh look at ourselves. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

J. Linscott, nature lover
This book is a wonderful view on the lives inside a wild wolf pack. Even though the Dutchers raised all but two of the original pack from 10 day old pups, the wolves still behave as they would in the wild with the exception of allowing humans to glimpse their lives. These wolves were kept in an enclosed area near the Sawthooth Mountains for six years otherwise this book and the film by the same title would not have been possible if these were wolves born in the wild their fear of humans would never have given us the glimpse of compassion, love and loyalty that is the wolf. As you read this book you will come to understand that wolves are not born killers. Please read this book for the sake of the wolf and the wilderness they represent, it may help in restoring them to the wild, for knowledge and understanding go hand in hand with preservation.

Excellent! A must read!
A value cannot be put on the information gained by Jim and Jamie Dutcher during the Sawtooth Project. This story exposes the reader to an animal that, until recently, little was known about. This book dispells myths and presents the wolf in a whole new, positive light. The observations made by Jim and Jamie Dutcher regarding the pack's behavior, as a whole and individually, are priceless. This book reveals the complexity and unbelievable intelligence of these magnificent animals.

To those who have criticized the Dutchers for "abandoning" the pack after the project was over, allow me to point out that although captive, these wolves were and are WILD ANIMALS. They are not pets and were never treated that way. The Dutchers did not abandon the animals, but left them in the captive care of the Nez Perce tribe, on enclosed land similar in size and backdrop of the Sawtooth enclosure. Jim Dutcher made it a priority in the beginning to make sure the pack had a safe place to go after the project ended. Because of his effort, the Sawtooth pack will never have to worry about hunters and will always have human caretakers. They have it much better than most captive wild animals. So quiet your critism, or at least devote it to something worth criticizing, like the people who keep wild animals captive as pets!

The Sawtooth Project has had a huge impact in changing the public's minds about wolves. We owe Jim and Jamie Dutcher a deep debt of gratitude for that.

Shame
A well written story but what a shame the pack were not cared for for by the Dutchers for the rest of the wolves natural lives. Captive packs can not lead the truly wild lifestyle they were intended to lead. And to abandon them to the care of others after finishing the documentary showed just how man can use an animal for his own financial gain them walk away from them. At the very least this couple should have committed their lives to a pack they formed for personal financial gain. A good well written story but the last chapters are heartbreaking and show man at his worst.

Opened a new page in my life
This... This book is beyond my dictionary of words, but I'll try to describe it as best I can.

First of all, I am a great fan of wolves, and I was introduced by seeing the end of a nameless movie I believe was "Wolves at our Door". My best friend bought me the book for my birthday, and I read a chapter here, and a chapter there, busy with school. As I began to progress, I got more and more into the book.

This book showed, from what I believe the true personality of a wolf, even though they were raised with human hands. Instinct took over, and Jim and Jamie didn't try or succeed in domesticating the wolves. This book showed the connection between wolves and humans that was broken once humans decided to classify wolves as inferior and not equals.

My heart was ripped out of my chest when I learned how the wolves were treated once Jim and Jamie could no longer care for the wolves. (Stupid permits!!) The two did the best they could to supply a pair of good new caretakers, slowly introducing them. But since the company sponsering the wolves was too busy with their finances, the wolves were abandoned 5 weeks at a time and volunteers fed them from over the fence. Jim and Jamie could do nothing about it, as they no longer were legal workers on the project and lived too far away.

Hope, is restored as in a fresh wolf paw print is seen in mud where the old pack used to dwell, renewing hope that the wolf has not yet diappeared yet.

A Marvellous Read
Hey everyone,

I started and read straight through to the end. Couldn't put it down. Simply and movingly written, staggering in its insights, awesome in its implications, touching in its story and - finally-heartbreaking in its conclusion. Some people may slam the Dutchers for seemingly abandoning the wolves, but I didn't have the heart. After reading this story, I sat down and thought about how often humans truly wreck their own endeavors. Draw your own opinions on the project, but the one lesson that should have been taught, judging from the reviews before this one, was clearly missed - again. Unity and the blessing of forgiveness should be our ultimate goal; without it we will forever batter ourselves to pieces in our own judgement of things.
Truly a beautiful piece of work and it snags my highest recommendation. ... Read more

Book Description

With the enormous development of human and mouse genomics and the availability of a variety of transgenic techniques, the mouse has become the most widely used animal for basic studies of brain development and as a model for human developmental disorders. The topics are addressed using a diversity of techniques, from genetic, biochemical and cell biological to morphological and functional. The conceptual approaches also provide a framework for studies of other problems and point the way towards future research. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Over 2,000 species, from the tiny spider mite to the massive blue whale, are profiled in DK's astonishingly wonderful Animal, produced in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution and more than 70 expert zoologists. To call this book "profusely illustrated" is to seriously underrepresent page after page of breathtaking photos capturing each creature in sharp images, thrumming with life. Even the page borders are covered with collages of animal skins to indicate which class of organisms is represented in that section--every inch of this heavy book is gorgeous.

Besides heft and beauty, Animal has authority. Editors-in-chief David Burnie and Don E. Wilson are top biologists, and they have assembled a crack team of consultants for each section of the book. For instance, Richard Rosenblatt of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography takes charge of the chapter on fishes, so all the classification, behavior, and distribution data is up-to-date and full of the kind of detail that comes from years of professional specialization. In addition to basic size, location, and status information, each animal gets a short, one- to two-paragraph description, enough to give a feel for the creature:

The blackfin icefish produces a natural "antifreeze," enabling it to survive in the subzero waters of the Antarctic. It lacks red blood cells and hence looks rather pale, but has excellent blood circulation, and a strong heart which weighs as much as that of a small mammal. Its large, toothy mouth led to it being called the crocodile fish by 19th-century whalers.

Biodiversity has never been more at the forefront of biologists' concerns, and Animal reports on the issues critical to ecology, from habitat loss to the species that are most endangered within each class.

This book is an ideal browsing reference for all experience levels, as well as a delightful addition to the collection of any animal enthusiast or classroom. Of necessity, not all species are covered, but as a general source of information down to the genus level, Animal excels. Don't be put off by the price! Extraordinarily beautiful, biologically accurate, and packed with furry, feathery, finny, many-legged delights, Animal is one of the very best science books of 2001. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Incredible--- A must for any animal lover or student.
This book is unbelievable from cover to cover. It's both a spectacular learning tool and a book that you'll keep forever and always refer to. It's been extremely helpful to me already as I continue through school toward a job working with animals and docenting at the z