Book Description

The true tale of an edenic Rocky Mountain town and what transpired when a predatory species returned to its ancestral home.

When, in the late 1980s, residents of Boulder, Colorado, suddenly began to see mountain lions in their yards, it became clear that the cats had repopulated the land after decades of persecution. Here, in a riveting environmental fable that recalls Peter Benchley's thriller Jaws, journalist David Baron traces the history of the mountain lion and chronicles Boulder's effort to coexist with its new neighbors. A parable for our times, The Beast in the Garden is a scientific detective story and a real-life drama, a tragic tale of the struggle between two highly evolved predators: man and beast. 3 illustrations, 2 maps. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Beast in the Garden
David Baron is a great writer, and this is a great book!

This is a must read for anyone who cares about large carnivores and their future survival.

Beast in the Garden is a non-fiction book that reads like a crime novel. Initially, I suspected that this might be another sensationalized account of wild animals run amuck. What I found was something entirely different, a tome that combines elements of biology, sociology and American history. It is truly a case study on our evolving environment, culture & society.

In this book David Baron masterfully illustrates that not all the news about the environment is doom and gloom. There is an exciting story out there that many people haven't noticed, and that is the recovery of North American wildlife. The cougar is just the most dramatic and charismatic example. This book should help people who love wildlife understand that there is a cost to having these creatures come back. We are going to have to make modest sacrifices and adjustments to our lifestyles in order to accommodate them. We are also going to have to come to the realization that wildlife needs to be managed, in order to insure human tolerance and public safety.

Mark Dowling

If you live near deer, you need to read this book.
David Baron writes a well-researched account of current mountain lion behavior in the United States. He discusses common misconceptions, such as they live only in the mountains - they live everywhere, including abandoned mines - and they only hunt at night - they can hunt at any hour of the day. Another misconception is that they live only in "wilderness" areas ('tho Baron argues that Man has altered the balance of nature to such a degree that such a thing doesn't even exist).

He points out that lions have been spotted in numerous cities throughout the United States. He discusses how the lions' behavior has changed as Man's behavior towards lions has changed. In the days when humans were the lions' worst nightmare, the lions were justifiably fearful of humans, avoiding them at all costs. However, the lions have figured out that humans are not generally much of a threat to them. In fact, humans tend to keep animals in confined spaces that make them easy pickings.

The author talks about how, in much of the 20th century, Man systematically exterminated tens of thousands of mountain lions (along with wolves and coyotes), resulting in an enormous increase in the population of deer. He stresses the fact that mountain lions, which are strictly carnivorous and will eat just about anything, vastly prefer deer to any other animal. Where there are deer, there are mountain lions.

I live in an area where I see deer every day. Many people in this area feed the deer, which is not only illegal, but it is harmful to the deer (reportedly contributes to chronic wasting disease & fosters dependency on human-provided food). Since the mountain lions are smart, observant, and efficient predators, they tend to notice where the deer hang out on a regular basis.

In a town about 15 miles from where I live, a mountain lion killed two dogs and a colt about a month ago. Just as in this book, the authorities didn't publicize this information. Maybe they assume we're incapable of good judgement and will form mobs of bloodthirsty lion hunters. Or perhaps they're fearful of frightening potential tourists. Or they adhere to the "ignorance is bliss" theory. We are in the process of providing an enclosure for our dogs that is covered on all sides to help protect them from the local predators (raptors, coyotes, and mountain lions).

When the lions become habituated to the presence of humans, they can become extremely dangerous, and we need to alter our own behavior and habits in order to protect ourselves, our children, and our pets. Although we have a higher risk of being hit by lightning than being attacked by a mountain lion, still it's good to be aware of the potential for risk when on a hiking trail or biking in an area frequented by lions.

I found the book extremely interesting and informative and highly recommend it to anyone. However, if you live where there are deer, especially if you have pets and want to be better informed about your surroundings, you would benefit by reading this book.

Great Book
I found this book to be a very lucid account of how Man and the Cougar have changed over the past 100 years. Baron gives the best argument I've come across to explain the growing number of attacks by Cougars on humans.
Human developement, but more so the change in our feelings towards wildlife has created a new ecotone that has allowed the Cougars numbers increase and to lose "respect" for humans. For the last 34 years Cougars have not been hunted in Calif. and I belive that this has caused cats to lose there fear of both man and dogs. Great book well worth the time and money.

A must read.
Wildlife protection and urban infringement have changed man's relationship with nature. Today, no area is safe as habituated animals adapt to city life. Mr. Baron does an outstanding job of explaining our association with wildlife, and provides a startling glimpse into our future. Entertaining, and informative, I highly recommend this book.

A RIVETING TALE OF A 4-LEGGED SERIAL KILLER
This book is amazing and riveting in the telling of our encroachment into the territory of wild animals, specifically the cougar, or mountain lion. It is hard to believe that this is the first book by David Baron, because it is everything a book should be: it begins with the heart of the story (the killing of a young runner, probably by a cougar) and then delves into those subjects we never feel we are interested in or can understand, such as science, the natural history of the Wild West, man's insistence on doing what we want, when we want, and living anyplace we choose, and then tells of heart-pounding stalking and serial killer type behavior. Throughout, Baron gives historical retellings of other encounters with mountain lions. The book wraps up as well as this story can be wrapped up, with lose ends flying in the wind as we search for answers to our desire to move into the territory of wild animals. Baron spares no one, including the parents of the young man killed or the Division of Wildlife employees, who in my opinion appear to be worthless.

To compare this story to the book and movie Jaws is right on. However, we have to remember that this is a story about real people and real events and real animals and should be taken seriously since attacks by wild animals on humans seem to be increasing at a high rate. It is amazing to me that some people who had their pet dogs carried off by cougars appear to be more upset than some people whose very lives are affected. To read about these people and their silly ideas and patently absurd notions about moving back to nature is eye-opening. When the west was truly wild, we did not live with these magnificent creatures. We hunted them or stayed out of their way; we did not try to live with them. And we certainly did not think they were cute, cute enough to take their pictures as they lolly-gagged on our patios where our pets and children play.

This book deserves to be a bestseller since it is both a great read and discusses issues of major importance. I hope the publisher and booksellers give this book the attention it so richly deserves. I also hope that Mr. Baron continues with his writing since he has a unique talent of being able to inform without being preachy and at the same time tell a riveting story. It is one of those books that held my attention throughout and that I read slowly so it would not end so quickly. And the ending is fitting to any book about serial killers and the like, which is to say the ending is truly chilling. ... Read more

Book Description

CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Second Edition is the only handbook specifically devoted to marine mammal medicine and health. With 66 contributors working together to craft 45 scientifically-based chapters, the text has been completely revised and updated to contain all the latest developments in this field. Building upon the solid foundation of the previous edition, the contents of this book are light-years ahead of the topics presented in the first edition. See what's new in the Second Edition:oMarine mammals as sentinels of ocean healthoEmerging and resurging diseasesoThorough revision of the Immunology chapter oDiagnostic imaging chapters to illustrate new techniquesoQuick reference for venipuncture sites in many marine mammalsoUnusual mortality events and mass strandingsoNew topics such as a chapter on careersoWider scope of coverage including species outside of the United States and Canada Filled with captivating illustrations and photographs, the Handbook guides you through the natural history of cetaceans, pinnipeds, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears. Prepared in a convenient, easy-to-use format, it is designed specifically for use in the field. Covering more than 40 topics, this one-of-a-kind reference is packed with data. The comprehensive compilation of information includes medicine, surgery, pathology, physiology, husbandry, feeding and housing, with special attention to strandings and rehabilitation. The CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Second Edition is still a must for anyone interested in marine mammals. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great up-to-date resource
This book contains articles that are current and relevant to the field of marine mammal medicine and is great for the researcher as well as the student. It's a great compilation of some of the best work in the field.

This is a great book... if it is something you need!
THis is an exceptional book if you are interested in understanding the health and care of marine mammals. If you aren't interested in these areas then it is probably not a good choice of reading material! ... Read more

Book Description

Combining excellent science with accessible style, the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals is an indispensable resource on the fascinating warm-blooded creatures of the sea. The contributions of more than 200 leading international authorities have made this single volume the guide for studyig the entire range of marine mammals.

Organized alphabetically, more the 280 articles are devoted to wide range of topics -- from the specific behavior and physiology of cetaceans and pinnipeds, to ecology, population biology, human effects and interaction, and research methodology.

Up-to-date, accessible, and scientifically sound, the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals will occupy a central place in any marine science library.

KEY FEATURES
*Complete Species List, featuring both living and extinct mammals;
*Comprehensive Glossary with definitions for more than 1,000 specialized terms;
*Extensive cross-referencing between articles;
*Abundant visual resources -- photographs, line drawings, maps, tables, and figures

KEY FEATURES
*Complete Species List, featuring both living and extinct mammals
*Comprehensive Glossary with definitions for more than 1,000 specialized terms
*Extensive cross-referencing between articles
*Abundant visual resources -- photographs, line drawings, maps, tables, and figures ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must have for every student of marine mammalogy!
This book is easy to use and provides comprehensive information for such a variety of topics that every student of marine mammals should have it in their library. I recommend it to students who are just starting their journey into marine mammal studies! ... Read more

Book Description

With detailed information drawn from hundreds of scientific publications and more than 400 spectacular illustrations, The Natural History of Costa Rican Mammals describes all of Costa Rica?s readily identifiable terrestrial and freshwater mammals.

The clear and entertaining text provides a wealth of information for researchers, students, and naturalist guides, as well as for first-time visitors to the American tropics who simply have an interest in wildlife. The book?s compact, sturdy design makes it easy to carry along on any field trip.

The illustration show not only the mammals themselves, but also their tracks, scats, dens, and anatomical details. Also included are illustrations of numerous other animals and plants with which the mammals have formed close ecological links.

The mammal descriptions include key identification features, range maps, vocalizations, derivations of common and scientific names, evolutionary history, local folklore and mythology, and extensive information about natural history and conservation. The book also describes some of the fascinating challenges faced by researchers and points out numerous questions that remain unanswered. By presenting mammals in a broader context, The Natural History of Costa Rican Mammals provides and entry point into a general study of tropical ecology and conservation.

With a preface by Oscar Arias
Former president of Costa Rica
1987 Nobel Peace Laureate ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Much More Than Meets the Eye
This book is far more than a review of information about mammals in Costa Rica; it is also a good field guide and a useful text on applied conservation. The author is a professional guide in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and as such is knowledgeable about a wide variety of natural history subjects. This book is primarily a review of the literature about mammals in not only Costa Rica, but elsewhere in Central America. It contains information widely applicable to other counties and the suggestions for conservation apply just as widely.

I have a pretty good library on wildlife in Central and South America and this beautifully done book is probably the best, not only about a specific group, but also about general issues. The drawings are excellent, the overall book is well put together and, the writing is clear, simple, accurate, and really first-rate. Buy this book even if you don't plan on traveling to Costa Rica.

Fantastic!
A marvellous book, compact enough to be a field guide and yet informative enough to be a valuable reference work at home. As a field guide it is particularly valuable for its superb illustrations and also in showing and discussing things like scats, tracks, dens and sounds for those animals that one would like to see but might not! We'll certainly take it along again on our next trip. As a reference work it is excellent as a clearly and entertainingly written introduction to the natural history and conservation of Costa Rica's many fascinating mammals. It also has a comprehensive list of references to the primary scientific literature.

From the publisher
Most field guides provide very little information other than the features of the animal relevant to identifying it. Wainwright's book, however, contains loads of fascinating natural history information, written in an engaging, sometimes clever but never cute style.

Goes beyond 5 stars!
This book is handy for those who want to identify Costa Rican mammals, but it is especially appropriate for anyone who wishes to go beyond the simple question of "What's that?" It contains a wealth of natural history information on mammals' feeding, defecating, and sexual behavior. The author also describes ecological interactions and conservation issues. Hundreds of superb illustrations depict portraits of the animals as well as behaviors, food plants, and interesting details such as scats and penis bones. While the book focuses on species within Costa Rica, much of the information applies to mammals in Central America in general. The Natural History of Costa Rican Mammals serves as a fine reference book and a fun-to-read book at the same time. ... Read more

Book Description

The National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World describes in fascinating detail all 120 species of the world's whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, manatees, Marine and Sea Otters, and the Polar Bear. Written by a team of experts and featuring more than 320 illustrations, 418 photographs, and 123 maps, this new guide offers more authoritative, up-to-date, and accessible information than any book previously published on the subject.

Organized by the four major groups of marine mammals--marine fissipeds, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sirenians--the species descriptions include:

Full-color paintings, some depicting males and females, juveniles, subspecies, or special features. Color photographs showing appearance in the wild and illustrating typical behaviors. Life history data, including length and weight at various life stages, and life span. Range and habitat text and a full-color range map based on the most current information. Facts about social organization, surface behaviors, swimming, and diving. Information on mating behavior, breeding, and the rearing of young. Details about food items and foraging techniques.Estimates of population in the wild, plus current and historic threats.

A general introduction outlines the evolution and taxonomy of marine mammals, distribution, migration, watching guidelines, identification techniques, organizations and laws that protect marine mammals, and more.

Introductions to groups include comparative size illustrations, discussion of behaviors particular to the group, and other unique features.

A useful illustrated glossary of terms and an index of species names complete the guide.

Exquisitely detailed illustrations, stunning photographs, and clearly written text combine to make this an indispensible reference source for marine mammal watchers and anyone interested in the natural world. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Much more than expected!
Audubon has certainly delivered their best in this marine life field guide! When I bought this, I expected it to be the usual good Audubon repeat of their previous field guides. I was quite impressed by the number of species inserted, and the special illustrations used along with it. There are a surprising number of families and subspecies listed also.
The whales and dolphins section is the best part of the guide, listing rare and endangered species. I don't suspect anyone has heard of the "Tucuxi" dolphin, have they? Rather than just listing commonly seen or normal species, Audubon has done extensive research on others, and has inserted dozens or more in each family section, making identification completely unmistakable. The seals and sea lions covered are no different in variety and number of listings. However, many of the seals listed are subspecies of 6 previous listings.
The binding is usual quality by Audubon publishers, making an excellent reading book, whether on a boat trip, in a car, or simply in an easy chair at home. Forget other Marine Mammal Guides, and make an extensive search for this!

Very informative, but a few minor quibbles
I picked this book up at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago (inspired by the walrus exhibit). It is a very informative guide and beautifully illustrated.

I would hazard to guess that this book is intended for the "arm-chair naturalist." Very few of us can afford vacations to the distant locales where many of the marine mammals in this book live.

The book is laid out like the typical birding guide: species description, similar species, habitat and natural history.

With this in mind, I was disapointed to find the "species describtion" and the "similar species" sections of the species accounts were often longer than the behavior and natural history sections. I do want to know how a Swainson's Thrush is similar to a Grey-checked Thrush (two similar birds), but I really do not care how to tell apart two endimic Antarctic seals. I would much rather read more about how their lives are lived.

My only other quibble is with the "status and conversation" sections of the species accounts. While it is certainlly true that many marine mammals are threatened and endangerd, it is also true that many marine mammals (such as harbor seals and bottle nose dolphins) are doing just fine. The authors of the book seem reluctant to admit this.

Both of these are minor quibbles. If you are even remotely curious about the variety of marine mammals in the world, this book is certainly for you.

Guide to Marine Mammals of the World
Guide to Marine Mammals of the World illustrated by Pieter Folkens et al is a National Audubon Society book organized into four major groups of marine mammals; marine fissipeds, pinnipeds, cetaceans, and sirenians.

There is fascinating detail as the book goes on to describe the world's whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, manatees, marine and sea otters, and polar bears. Not only is there detailed descriptions, but there are maps to show where these animals live throughout the world. There is a general introduction that outlines the evolution and tanonomy of marine mammals, distribution, migration, watching guidelines, identification techniques, organizations and laws that protect marine mammals.

There are 120 species represented in this book. Also, there are facts about social organization, surface behaviors, swimming and diving, details about food items and foraging techniques, and estimates of population in the wild, plus current and historic threats.

If you are taking a trip to the coastlines or live near the oceans then don't be caught without this fine field guide. You will be amazed by the wildlife near the and in the ocean. This is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated work.

Don't leave home without it, as your trip will be richer and more fulfilling as you spot the animals listed.

A lasting, important library reference
Pieter Folkens illustrates Guide To Marine Mammals Of The World, a comprehensive desk reference which blends color photos and maps with realistic drawings of marine mammals. Paintings illustrate juvenile and subspecies, photos show typical behavior and appearance in the wild, and color range maps reflect the latest information, while chapters cover all the natural history basics. Guide To Marine Mammals Of The World promises to be a lasting, important library reference.

The 'Sibley' of Marine Mammals
The National Audubon Society's Guide to Marine Mammals of the World contains a wealth of information about pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), polar bears and otters that's timely and easy to digest. Descriptions, range, behavior, etc. of the various species are informative, with just enough detail for anyone short of a marine biology major.

Along with a number of excellent quality photographs, Pieter Folkens (from my hometown of Benicia, CA!) illustrations are superb. From Knopf, the same publishers of the Sibley Guide to Birds, the graphics and layout of this guide are similarly clean and very attractive. I think it's one of the best looking books of it's type, and an ideal introductory guide for anyone with an interest in marine mammals. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

This is "the" book on deer for hunters, ranchers, and more!
What a thrill to see this book back in print. It's first edition was one of the Outdoor Life series and has given us the tools to understand one of North America's most majestic creatures. The life cycle, aging, growth patterns, habitat and environmental needs of the whitetail are explained in detail with the writer's storyteller style mixed in. This book can be understood and enjoyed by young and old, hunters and ranchers, nature lovers and anyone interested in learning more about one of the most unique animals on earth. ... Read more

Book Description

In A Field Guide to Cows, John Pukite provides all the facts--so even the novice can identify and get to know America's fifty-two breeds of cattle. Every entry in this entertaining yet completely usable book features an illustration that highlights each breed's most easily identifiable traits, such as coloration pattern and body shape. The book includes a checklist of breeds so the die-hard cow watcher can keep track of sightings, a list of essential garb and gear for cow watching, a glossary of terms, a listing of breeder associations, and more. Fascinating cow trivia is interspersed throughout.Informative, amazing, and amusing, A Field Guide to Cows is the indispensable companion for would-be cow tippers, farmers, city folk, agriculturalists, interstate drivers, 4-H'ers, vacationing families, and everyone who likes to moo at cows.
Cow Facts
*There are approximately 350 squirts in a gallon of milk
* Old cows in India have their own nursing homes
* From 1866 to 1895 cowboys drove about 10,000,000 cattle out of Texas ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Ok...
I have cows and live on a farm that was once a dairy farm. I purchased this book because I thought it might have some good pictures and information. I was 50% right. The information is very good. Each specific breed has it's own two pages to strut it's stuff. On the bottom of the page there is extra "did you know..." information. That is all really helpful. But the pictures. The pictures are all black and white. Even though it tells you what color the cow is, there should really be at least a couple real photographs. Other than the pictures, this is a really good book! Go for it!!

When you can't go home to the range, you can read this book!
I love cows. Whenever life takes a turn for the worse, I soothe myself by driving out to the country to watch our bovine friends. I wish I could share my life with a cow, but my 5,000 square foot lot makes it impossible. So, when I can't visit Bossie, I reach over to my beside table, pick up A Field Guide to Cows and immerse myself in bovine dreams. Calmed, contented and amused, I can drift into peaceful sleep. Better than a drive to Vermont!

Big Disappointment
If you are looking for a cutesy book you won't be disappointed. If you are looking for information on identifying cattle of various breeds accurately - keep looking. This book has a cut out mask that you can hold in front of your face so you can moo at cows over the fence. There are no photographs of cows or anything else. Black and white sketches only. Buyer beware!!!

Light-hearted approach to bovine identification
Finding this book has rekindled my interest in the bovine species, and has allowed me to develop a better general understanding of bovine behaviour and the origins and development of the species common to North America. The light-hearted approach makes the book all the more fun and accessable. My only complaint is that the book consists of illustrations; although they are undeniably good, I would have much preferred color photos. Nevertheless a great book for a child with a budding interest in cattle, or the city slicker who wants to know what that cow that doesn't look like a Holstein is called.

Cute book for learning the basics
I bought this book because I've always had a "thing" for cows. My kitchen used to be decorated in cows. I'm one of those people that used to yell "MOOOOO" out of car windows, every time I would pass a field of cows.

This book isn't exactly what I thought it would be, but I still recommend it. I was hoping for pictures, but there are only hand drawn illustrations. The illustrations are good...but I really wished for color photographs.

There are fun facts on every page, which I enjoy being able to spout off. There are charts in the back of the book about milk production and beef production. My pre-teen daughter found enough information in this book to do a report on cows, even thought it's thin...she also found it to be a fast read.

I'd recommend this book to someone curious about cows. It's a good starting-off point. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mammals from the Down Under
I've been doing alot of research on illustrating various Australian Mammals and found that this book is the most compacted of all reference materials. You get the whole animal to view. So many times when cross researching you find yourself struggling to figure out what the animals feet really looks like, this book I find is really helpful.

THE field guide
Peter Menkhorst's book is widely regarded as THE field guide to the mammals of Australia. Compact and easy to use, with fantastic illustrations by Frank Knight, its a must for anyone interested in identifying Australia's diverse mammalian fauna. ... Read more

Book Description

A beautifully illustrated guide to every species of whale, dolphin and porpoise.Covers their identification, evolution, biology, behaviour, reproduction and social lives. Includes tips on how and where to watch whales, dolphins and porpoises, and information on their conservation. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

You can't go without it.
This book, referred to by many other authors, is THE guide for this group of Mammals. I found it indispensible for use in the rainforest, even if most mammals are very hard to see. The perfect illustrations, combined with the thorough descriptions and clear distribution maps, make it easy to determine what kind of animal you've seen. Very helpful to understand the local guides are the translations of the names in many tongues.

It's a very practical and well illustrated fieldguide
It's the most usefull book I own related with the mammalfauna proyects ( inventories, education, management ) we are doing in Central and Western Colombia. Every aspect of the text and illustrations has proven to be very usefull and practical. The taxonomical descriptions are generaly good enough to clasify the bigger species in the field, and the habit and habitat descriptions coincide mostly with our own experiences. The distributionmaps included in the text are also very usefull. The illustrations are sometime a little small, but have proven to be easily recognized by the local habitants, what is extremely usefull during quick inventaries. The relation price-quality is outstanding

wonderful
Adorei este livro, à muito tempo não vejo um livro sobre mamíferos neotropicais com este. A primeira vez que o li foi na universidade onde eu estudo. Sou aluno de veterinária e pretendo trabalhar com animais silvestres, por isso gostaria de ter este livro. Gostaria de saber mais sobre trabalhos ou livros publicados por estes autores. Um abraço, Adriano Carneiro (Pernambuco- Brasil). ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive book is a collective response to thousands of letters and phone calls received annually by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.Students, teachers, and scientists all have amazingly varied questions about whales and dolphins, and the most revealing inquiries are presented here with detailed answers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good reference book
This is an interesting and helpful reference book if simple answers are all that are needed. References to other literature for each topic would be helfpul since the answers are sometimes so general and brief. Also, I had hoped that it would contain more information about perhaps the most important question we could ask about these animals ... how can we protect them?

Fascinating information about wild whales and dolphins
Collaboratively written by James G. Mead (Curator of Marine Mammals, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History) and Joy P. Gold (Technical Information Specialist, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History), Whales And Dolphins In Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book is a gorgeously illustrated book filled with beautiful color photography by Flip Nicklin and showcases fascinating information about wild whales and dolphins. The first section presents basic facts in question-and-answer format; the second addresses these wondrous creatures species by species, offering amazing trivia and insight into the natural world. A superb giftbook for dolphin and whale enthusiasts, Whales And Dolphins In Questions is strongly recommended for school and community library wildlife and marine life reference collections. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

One of the best on this subject
One of the best books on this subject
This book covers much more than tracking fundamentals, it gives you a clear picture on how to conduct a patrol in hostile territory with lots of detail and fist hand experience. Examples are vivid and realistic; writer has obviously been there and done that. I read some other books on this subject but others are more inclined towards pure military operations. I would recommend this book to a search and rescue teams and trainers as an excellent theoretical base. It also has several chapters on how to train other people with clear and easy to comprehend instructions. Not to forget this book is an easy reader (unlike some other books on this subject). Highly recommended.

Good Reference for Tracking
This is a very good reference for tracking. I would suggest this book if you are going to do any type of tracking. I use it as a reference for our Search and Rescue Team.

Ted Fisher
Vermilion County Search and Rescue

Best Tracking book I've seen to date
The SAS Guide to Tracking is one of the more thorough guides to tracking available today. It is a thick volume in comparison to similar books but is filled with useful information. It details the more common tracking techniques and gives very informative descriptions not only of what you are looking for but why you should look for particular signs and what they mean. It covers various techniques for various terrain types, surface vegetations and track aging. All in all one of the best books on tracking that you could purchase today. I will warn you that while it covers technique and sign reading it does not cover the tracks of various animals to any significant extent, but then again it would be a much larger book if it did and given the thoroughness of the text perhaps a separate book on animal tracks would be warranted. Unlike most tracking books, it does cover tracking people very well.

Best book to LEARN tracking
I'm certain an experienced tracker would learn from this book, however, I am a beginner. I am really learning to follow track.

This book covers minute details and then puts them together for you in sections on deductions based on the sign. It's super! I probably own 5 or 6 other "tracking" books. They are mostly pictures of tracks books...not how to find and follow sign books. The difference is important to me. I will now be able to take those books into the field for what they are best as: track identification guides. The SAS Guide to Tracking will have taught me to follow the sign.

If you want to learn how to follow a track from someone who must rank among the world's experts, this is THE book. I am not saying the other books are a waste, but this book lays it out.

BTW - Just this morning I was able to follow the sign of a cow moose and its baby through heavily fouled snow across my property. I couldn't have done that just a week ago.

Hits the mark
Wow, what an interesting book. It's easy to tell that Mr. Carss knows of which he speaks. Although written by a person with a military background the information contained within covers the spectrum of who could benefit from the information and training scenarios. Whether it's mantracking or animal tracking the reader is primarily interested in, the lessons, training and observations are real and proven and usable whatever your arena is. Although there are more persons (Wilderness Search and Rescue)who would prefer to track at night than the book leads you to believe it is definately one that deserves to go on the top shelf......for quick reference. ... Read more

Book Description

From the remote Pine Barrens of New Jersey to the wilds of Wyoming, Tom Brown has earned the mantle of America's Greatest Tracker-someone who, with the help of an Apache elder, has developed his senses to such a degree that he can "read" the environment around him in ways that seem almost magical.

Now, for the first time, he shares vivid accounts of his most fascinating cases as an outdoors detective, including:

€ The search for a diabetic child before he goes into insulin shock
€ The struggle to apprehend an armed criminal who put a bullet in his back
€ The hunt for a tiger loose in the New Jersey wilderness
€ The incredible search for a missing teenager where the police had turned up no clues
€ His astonishing determination that the cause of a police officer's death was not a suicide, but in fact, a murder!
€ and more ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Tracking seen through the master's eyes
There are 2 types of people who will read this book. Those who are obsessed with Tom Brown Jr. and those who are skeptical. Other reviews of this book reflect that skepticism.

I too was skeptical of Tom's claims about his super-human abilities of stalking and tracking at first. After all, his stories read like a hollywood-script. In reality, movies like the Hunted (which is based on the first tracking case detailed in this book) had to rewrite the story to make it more believable than reality. Tom's story, the true story of what really occurred, is unbelievable to anyone who hasn't become an obsessed follower of and believer in Tom Brown Jr.

Either category of reader should be thrilled with this book. Tom gives more details and insight into several tracking cases he participated in. Including a search for an escaped Tiger in New Jersey, Tom tracking down one of his own trained CIA assassins gone bad (the basis of the movie "the Hunted") and other searches for lost children with both tragic and heroic endings.

Most of all, Tom Brown is a gifted story teller. Each chapter carries you along an emotional roller coaster experienced through the eyes of the master tracker, the best in the world at what he does.

Those who are skeptical and who read this book, will want to read more. Eventually after reading and learning the skills that Tom teaches, perhaps even taking one of his classes, they will become obsessed with Tom like I have become.

Those who are believers and admirers of Tom (often to a fault), who have become obsessed with his abilities and wisdom, will find in this book details of stories we have been waiting for years to hear from him. In the dedication of the book, Tom mentions that this is the first of a trilogy. Wonderful news, I waited for over 1 year of delays for this book to be publised. No delay is too long to wait for the next 2!

The Tracker shares his secrets
Tom Brown's new book was long awaited, finally it is here. His fans might have hoped to see it published already when the movie 'the hunted' (whose technical advisor Tom Brown was and which is even based on a story in this book) hit the cinemas, but due to reasons only the publisher know it arrived half a year later. For the reading audience this does not make any difference at all. The 'case files' which Brown presents in this book do not need a film as a support, they will come alive on their own and - compared to the rather dull movie - the material conveyed in the book is 100% true Tom Brown stuff. People who know Tom Brown will be surprised how deep he goes this time: He is not only sharing his great abilities as a tracker, but also all the intense personal and intimate emotions he experiences being on a tracking case. And a big tracking adventure - in Brown`s perspective - is the whole life, because as a tracker tracking never stops. And it's not a mystic knowledge limited to few chosen ones but an art and science open to anybody who is willing to show passion and invest long hours of 'dirt time' - just as Master Tracker Tom Brown did over decades.
All of his stories are exciting to read (some like 'My Frankenstein' are a little bit too macho-style in my opinion), most have a sad ending in common but at the same time they are very rich when it comes to universal messages beyond the physical evidence. Tracking as the art of seeing, feeling and knowing.
So it is a great book to read which talks to us at the same time on different and very subtle levels.

could be better...
While Tom Brown in an interesting man, and his skills and experiences are interesting subjects, i found this book to be terribly written, and quite uninformative. Its not all bad, as some of the stories are entertaining in themselves, but Mr Brown has an awful tendacy to repeat himslef over, and over, AND OVER! "the hunted always has the advantage" appears about 12 times in the first chapter, and many phrases like it repeat themselves endlessly throught...quite honestly, it got to the point where i would just scan through it....

I have Mr Browns feild manuals of various types and find them useful, and well written. Mr Brown is after all, a teacher. I think he would be better served to stick with it.

Ill also admit that i find the idea of Tom Brown taking out 34 special forces soldiers with "a tap of a stick" in a training excercise, and never being seen by anyone in 7 acres of land to be highlt unbeleivable....But, like any good tracker/scout, ...i tend not to doubt anyone. especially this crafy soul .

Very Impressed
The lessons in this book are not in how to apply camo or details in how to track; these lessons are to teach ways to live and, in some cases, the psychological aspects of tracking. Reading this book will give the reader a great insight to Toms himself, but don't pick it up to learn skills. He has other books for that. Or better yet, he runs a very good school to teach those skills.

compelling, but maybe not for everyone
I should say to begin with I'm a huge fan of Tom Brown's books, but I will still try to offer a balanced viewpoint. I would probably give this book about 4 and a half stars - but it may depend on who is reading it.
In this book Tom has targeted his audience much more than in previous books. There is an abundance of detail, perhaps too much so for a general audience. For some readers the minute details may seem irrelevant, or appear to drag the story down, while for those with some interest in tracking, the subtleties will add to the richness of what is being presented.
I found the story line that was the basis of the movie "The Hunted" much more compelling in this book. It is unfortunate that the movie was watered down to be entertaining, catering to short attention spans, and excessively violent. This book requires you to dig deeper, and slow down a little. In this way it is uncompromising for those who may be expecting something else. It is meant to be educational, not just entertaining.
It may not be the best book to start with. For newcomers, I would probably recommend the Tracker or Grandfather to get a better overview of Tom's life, or the teachings he received from Grandfather. ... Read more

Book Description

This outstanding book provides a thorough and up-to-date overview of the remarkable mammals of Madagascar`s diverse group of 117 species, over 100 of which are endemic to the island. The author offers clear information on all the Malagasy mammals, from the fascinating lemurs to the shrew-like tenrecs, and he discusses where to find and how to identify them. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fascinating fauna, beautiful photos
Malagasy mammals are truly an interesting read. They are unusual and interesting as an example of island radiation, but also because of recently extinct megafauna, and patterns of diversity. The lack of diversity--what is not found in madagascar--is perhaps equally curious as what is found there (fossa, lemurs, etc) due to hypotheses of how the fauna populated the island and when. The beautiful photos (as in the compelling blue-eyed lemur) make this a true guide to mammals as well as beautiful coffee-table display book.

At last! A field guide to Malagasy mammals!
This book will be a valued resource to those studying mammals, those working Madagascar, or even folks visiting Madagascar to enjoy the fauna. Prior to this volume, there was **no** comprehensive guide to mammals (in particular a paucity of information available on rodents). Garbutt has done a fantastic job of providing us with practical information and clear, useful photos/drawings. If we could all be so lucky to see the creatures featured in this book. Owning the book will have to suffice for many of us, epecially given the high risk of extinction for many of Madagascar's native mammals. Well worth the investment.

SO GREAT
This book is a super-mega reference book about all the mammals of Madagascar (the ones that people have discovered, that is). It has creatures in there I have NEVER heard of. The photos are pretty good and the written information is educational. Great for beginners learning about mammals of Madagascar.

Mammals of Madagascar
This is a very comprehensive book covering not only the lemurs but also the bats and so forth. There are maps to identify what part of Madagascar to find the animal.

Excellent book
This is an excellent book on some of the most fascinating mammals to be found anywhere in the world. There are many photographs and the quality is first class. If you are interested in lemurs, this is the book for you.

Indeed, the Mammals of Madagascar rivals a coffee table book in terms of the quality of the photography while at the same time including the kind of detailed information you would expect to find in a field guide. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Great Read..and even better information
The immense benefit of this book for the hiker or woodsman is obvious. Here you'll find examples of mistakes and misunderstandings which ineveitably led, as shown by McMillions' careful retrospective analysis, to serious maulings and fatalities. His discussion of the psychology of both bear and victim can enable much safer sojourns into the wilderness.

But the book isn't only for those most likely to encounter these magnificent animals. Even for those of us who live in the city, reading the book illustrates the great, atavistic fear which all of us might somehow carry in genetic memory. You need only experience the hair rising on the back of your neck as you read these accounts to understand how deep this feeling runs in all of us.

For myself, it took only a chance encounter with a paltry black bear rummaging around the trashcans outside my tent to bring this home. I spent the rest of the night trembling with unused adrenaline in my husbands arms.

Where did this fear come from? Someoplace I never knew existed, I assure you. But remember, one childhood psychology study I read said most children spontaneously begin to exhibit, at about the age of three, a deep, abiding fear of the dark woods.

Riveting and full of respect for grizzlies
This may not be the best book to take with you to read in bear country. Better: Read it at home before you leave and give it time to sink in. The real value of this book comes not in the gripping narrative of bear attacks all over the West and Alaska, although the graphic stories hold your attention like a vise, but in the respect it generates for perhaps the most respectable wild animal of our time. McMillion presents a point of view without clobbering the reader with it, so the considered reader can come away from the book not with a fear of grizzlies but with a healthy respect for them.

Imagine Having a Bear Tear Both Your Arms Off!!
As someone who's actually been on the receiving end of a bear charge I can say with some authority that this book is GARBAGE. In fact, it is emblematic of everything that is wrong with writing of this type: It pushes an agenda to the exclusion of almost everything else.

I've spent years in bear country, have witnessed two bear attacks, have been charged by a bear and have talked to dozens of hikers, hunters, rangers, fishermen, loggers, miners and others who spend time in bear country. And I can tell you that if you value your life and you want OBJECTIVE and realistic information to avoid a bear attack DON'T READ THIS BOOK!

This author pushes the same old, dreary, worn-out, tired anti-people, anti-self defense, anti-gun hype that nauseates those of us who know better.

Indeed, this book reminds me of the story of Cynthia Dusel Bacon, a geologist who was attacked by a black bear in Alaska. Bacon was air-dropped in interior Alaska to take geological specimans and make observations. The pilot was to return later and pick her up at a pre-determined location.

But Dusel was stalked and attacked by a bear. During the attack Dusel was able to find her radio in her rucksack and call for help. However, before help could arrive she was severely injured. The pilot took her to Fairbanks from where she was airlifted to Stanford Medical Center in California. The doctors saved her life, but SHE LOST BOTH ARMS AT THE SHOULDER!!!

The attacking bear was estimated at less than 200 lbs. So if Dusel had possessed any kind of medium-powered gun, even something so benign against bears as a .357 mag or even a .38 Special, chances are she could have repelled the bear if not killed it. But noooo!! She was evidently operating under the same stupid ideas as McMillion and others who say you shouldn't carry a gun in bear country. For her ignorance, or her willingness to heed the stupid advice of others, she condemned herself to a life without arms or hands!

To those of you who oppose the possession of firearms in bear country try a simple experiment: Try living for JUST ONE DAY with your hands bound behind you with rope or duct tape. Just try it!! And then ask yourself the following simple question: Isn't it better to HAVE a gun and NOT need it than to NEED IT and NOT HAVE it?

Moreover, there was no evidence that Bacon provoked the bear in anyway. In fact, by every version of her widely documented story, the attacking bear exhibited classic "stalking" or "predatory" behavior.

Nonetheless, in the arrogant, morally superior fashion typical of people who believe they have the right to tell the rest of us how to think and live, the author tacitly condemns the commonsense human use of bear habitat. How else can we interpret his relentless efforts to blame and shame people whenever a bear goes berserk? Or to suggest we have no right to defend ourselves?

As indicated above, I've had first-hand experience with bear attacks. And in my opinion if you want to travel in bear country with any degree of safety, I recommend "Bear Encounter Survival Guide" by James Gary Shelton. Shelton has far more first hand experience than McMillion. His writing is objective, realistic and wholly without ulterior motives. He also describes the predatory or stalking behavior of the bear that rendered Ms. Bacon a cripple.

Great Book - Truthful
Just wanted to say what a great bear attack book. I hike in bear country, and it's always helpful to be reminded what does happen. Also, just wanted to comment that I personally know Joe Heimer, in the story "Warm Spell", and that the author's account of this attack was relayed in the book exactly as Joe told of the account to me, so I have to believe that each of the stories were researched and written with the same attention to detail. Great for anyone going into bear country!!

Terrifying.
I first saw this book in the hands of my Dad a few weeks ago. Then in my older brothers. They both were very intrested in this book so i asked my mother to read it to me. I think i may never leave our family ranch and hed off into the forest again. Bears killing humans and eating them may not scare my dad and brother but it sure scared the pants off of me. I always thought that all bears were always cute and playful, who whould have thought. Scott McMillion did a great job on this book. It takes a very good or very funny writer to get me into a book and this man has done it. I applued him(i hope i spelt that right). Even though it may be quite some time before i will want to see a bear again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

"The wolf exerts a powerful influence on the human imagination. It takes your stare and turns it back on you." So Barry Lopez writes in his first major work of nonfiction, a careful study of the way that wolves and humans have interacted over centuries, and the way that the wolf has become so central to our thinking about animals. Drawing on considerable personal experience with wolves and on an astonishing range of literature, Lopez argues for the necessity of wolves in the world, which would be much poorer without their howl. Thanks in part to the influence of this essential book about Canis lupus, first published in 1978, we know a great deal more about wolves and are all the better prepared to assure their protection. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Reading this book changed my perspective.
Barry Lopez sensitively portrays the true personality and nature of wolves, challenging long-held myths of their ferocity and menace to society. His book was my introduction to a continuing interest in this noble yet misunderstood animal. I am grateful to Mr. Lopez for opening my eyes and heart and leading me to becoming an advocate on behalf of the wolf and its well-being.

A final say on the history of the North American gray wolf.
Written with the sensitivity that is Mr. Lopez' trademark, this is a book for lovers (and haters) of wolves. It is extremely well-researched and well-written, and will teach you something (even if you believe you are an expert on wolves)

Wonderful.
A group of school children was asked to each draw a picture of a wolf. They all drew the typical savage dog-like monster, complete with huge teeth, bloody fangs, demonic eyes, the works. Then an animal handler brought a real wolf into the classroom, on a leash. They were awestruck, and took turns patting it as it was led around the room and introduced to them all. Afterwards, they were again asked to draw a picture of a wolf. This time, the picture was of wolves with big, kind eyes - and enormous, outsized feet. No fangs, no blood.

That's what this book will do to the casual reader, show you the wolf you don't know, and adjust your preconceptions about the wolf you THINK you know. A marvelous achievement; must reading.

One of the finest nature books of the past thirty years
The greatest virtue of this book is that it makes you care. Some of the great wolf books presume already that you have an interest in the subject, like Mech's, as fine and as informative and as authoritative as it is, won't necessarily create a sense of awe like Lopez's. But through a judicious use of scientific and mythological materials, fused together with a marvelous literary sense, Lopez creates an epic retelling of the wolf in North America.

Since reading this book for the first time, a host of sections have remained vivid to me. For instance, a schoolroom that is to be visited by a wolf and its handler. The children are asked to make a drawing of a wolf beforehand, and most create a beast with huge and menacing teeth. After the visit, they are told once again to draw a wolf, and this time draw a dog-like animal with enormous paws. No other section of the book emphasized to me how dreadfully we misconceive wolves. Lopez meanders over the course of Western civilization harvesting tales and stories--both scientific and mythic--recounting the myriad ways we have thought about wolves. Few of our imaginings do their fine qualities justice, and most often we demonize them. As a result, the wolf as we know it is largely a creation of our fevered imaginations. Lopez tries to break through the fictions about wolves to focus more on their truer qualities and natures. The heartbreaking pages that end the book bring to mind the great tragedy it was for the North American wolf for Europeans to have discovered America.

One might have to cut the book a tiny bit of slack because of the graphics. The pictures are judiciously chosen, and while graphics methods have improved dramatically in the past twenty years due to computer technology, and the book the drawings are superb, the photos good if a tiny bit blurry given their age, and the illustrations highly informative. I especially love the reproduction of the print of a three-year-old Alaskan timber wolf. I used to take the paw of my German Shepherd Birgit and place it over the print, and was astonished at how huge the wolf print was in comparison.

This is a truly enjoyable and informative book, one that will enrich and alter the way one looks at nature. Certainly, I now never go to a zoo without a great deal of awe and regret when passing a wolf.

A good start!
As long as this book is read by someone with a logical mind who can find the errors and generalizations made by Lopez, this is an excellent book. It has few tendenies to generalize, though it does make the wolf out to be something of a magical creature with super powers in some points. It is a rare thing to find a good thick book of the behavior and ways of wolves (and men) so it would be unwise for the well-educated curious person to miss this. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the extinction of the dinosaurs, hoofed mammals have been the planet's dominant herbivores.Native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, they include not only even-toed artiodactyls (pigs, hippos, camels, deer, antelopes, giraffes, sheep, goats, and cattle) and odd-toed perissodactyls (horses and rhinos), but also tethytheres (elephants and their aquatic relatives, manatees and seas cows) and cetaceans (whales and dolphins), which descended from hoofed land mammals.Recent paleontological and biological discoveries have deepened our understanding of their evolution and in some cases have made previous theories obsolete.In Horns, Tusks, and Flippers, Donald R. Prothero and Robert M. Schoch present a compelling new evolutionary history of these remarkable creatures, combining the latest scientific evidence with the most current information about their ecology and behavior.

Using an approach based on cladistics, the authors consider both living and extinct ungulates.Included in their discussion are the stories of rhinos, whose ancestors include both dinosaur-sized hornless species and hippo-like river waders; elephants, whose earliest ancestors had neither tusks nor trunks; and whales, whose descent from hoofed mesonychids has never properly been described for the lay audience.Prothero and Schoch also update the evolutionary history of the horse, correcting the frequent errors made in textbooks and popular works, and they make available to the general public new evidence about the evolution of camels, horned antelopes, and cattle.In addition, they raise important conservation issues and relate anecdotes of significantfossil finds.

Scientifically accurate and up to date, generously illustrated, and clearly written, Horns, Tusks, and Flippers is a useful and much-needed resource for specialists in the fields of paleontology, zoology, ecology, and evolutionary biology, as well as for general readers interested in learning more about the story of life on earth. ... Read more