Reviews (2)

Pot Bellies and other Miniature Pigs
I have been looking for a good book about Pot Bellied Pigs for a long time, and I belive this book to be excellent. It is packed full of useful information and has the cutest pictures you will ever see. I recommend this book to any PBP owner if they are new to this wonderful pet or if they have had one for years. I don't believe that you will be disappointed.

Great Book for beginning pig parents.
Having just acquired our first piglet, we were looking for all types of information about these animals. We found this book answers just about all of the questions we have had to this point. In fact, this is probably all the 'pig book' we will need for a long time. We highly recommend this book to anyone just starting out. Lots of information in great detail for beginning pig owners. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Stupendous!
Ever since I fell in love with walruses at a very young age, I have been craving for the perfect book about these marine mammals. I just may have found it in The World of the Walrus. Having everything from biology, to history, to the walruses place in pop culture. Walrus lover or not, you are sure to enjoy this book. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Tugs at the heart strings
Jack and Patti, what a wonderful story. I learned much from the book and I also can relate as my friend and I had a realtionship with a wonderful black baby bear this past fall. It was absolutely magical. Your story certainly tugged at my heart strings, as I laughed and cried while reading your story. You bring to the public that humans and animals can communicate and perhaps these so-called wild animals are more human than some people are willing to admit. I can understand why you ended where you did. Thank you for a wonderful book.

ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL & BEARY HEARTWARMING!!
I just loved this book. Hated to come to the end. A marvelous and touching story about animals, love and trust and nature. Almost too amazing to be true but with wonderful photos to prove it! I will lie awake at night and dream of Jack and Patti and their bears. Thank you, Becklunds!

A New Understanding of Bears
I never understood black bears until reading Jack Becklund's book. I laughed and cried, feeling as if I was right there with Jack and his wife Patti. Afterward, I wanted to visit that area, see the house, see the yard where Little Bit and the other bears played. I now want to find out more about helping these wonderful creatures survive. I have never been more moved by a book. I would love to communicate with Jack and Patti some time and get a picture of "Conversation with a Bear". They are incredible people and so fortunate to have had such a gift in their lives as becoming intimately involved with God's beautiful wildlife.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book. I am reading it again now for the second time. It is hard to put down. Thank you Jack and Patti for sharing this beautiful experience with us.
Joanne Setlock
Wallace Ave.
Buffalo, New York 14216

Magical!
If you love animals, nature, the great outdoors, and reading about people who love all those things too, please get this book, sit down with a box of tissues, and enjoy! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll shake your head in wonderment. The author Jack Becklund and his wife Patti, move deep into the Minnesota forests. Their property is home to deer gamboling on the lawn, chipmunks and hand-fed squirrels munching seeds on the porch,wild mallard ducks swimming and splashing in the creek below, and a colorful array of native birds. But the real heart of the story is Little Bit, the black bear cub who toddles onto the back deck one day, and stays for the next six summers as a welcome, loving, and deeply loved guest of the couple. She is a magical spirit, a living, breathing gift from God, sent to bring great joy to their lives. We are honored to meet Little Bit's cubs, her mates, and numerous other black bears who live in the area, and come to trust the Becklunds. The story itself is incredible, but between the lines, we watch the couple come to love and appreciate the power of this sacred trust they've been given...the joy of the relationship they share with these magnificent animals.This is a book for all time...a classic in every sense of the word. The photos are magnificent, and bring the personalities of the animals into beautiful focus.

Best book I ever read!!!!
Summer with the bears is by far the best book I've ever read. If you don't have it or haven't read it do so now. It will change your life in some way I'm sure. I first read about it in the Reader's Digest and put my copy on order for the moment it came out. Little bit and all of the other bears touched my heart so much it's hard ot describe. I felt like I was there with them as events were happening. Jack and Patti you are so lucky to have had this special time in your lives and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sharing it with us. Just goes to show that all animals are not as we always imagine them to be, yet we know at the same time they are not all created equal. There are those that possess a special trait and willingness to be different, that was little bit. Your book was written from your heart, and the pictures helped us to be there too. I laughed and I cried along with you. so few of us will experience what you did interacting with the bears on the level that you did. I attribute your book to helping me find a hidden talent I did not know existed in me. I started sketching, and yes mostly bears. I did one of you and Patti with little bit, if you'd ever like them all you need to do is ask and they are yours. You touched my life in such a special way that in turn I'd like to touch your lives too. Hope there will be more books and I wish you all the best in your lives. Thank You for sharing your special lives with the world. ... Read more

Book Description

This unique book integrates knowledge from a wide range of expertise, specifically applied to the mouse and addressed at a wide audience from those new to the field to experts who want an update on the state of the art. Mouse Genetics and Transgenics: A Practical Approach covers all aspects of using the mouse as a genetic model organism: care and husbandry; archiving stocks as frozen embryos or sperm; making new mutations by chemical mutagenesis; transgenesis; gene targeting; mapping mutations and polygenic traits by cytogenetic, genetic, and physical means; and disseminating and researching information via the Internet. ... Read more

Book Description

For the past twenty-five years, Alexandra Morton has been at the forefront of whale and dolphin research, dedicating her life to the study of orcas (also known as killer whales). Now in Listening to Whales, Morton shares the spellbinding story of her career, her adventures in the wilderness, the heartbreak she has endured, and the rewards of living her life on her own terms.

Born into an artistic family in Connecticut, Morton experienced a seismic jolt when at age twelve she first read the work of primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and knew she wanted to study wild animals. Soon afterward, listening for the first time to orcas communicating with each other, she knew she had found her life work. In the late 1970s, while working at California’s Marineland, Alexandra pioneered the recording of whale sounds by dropping a hydrophone into the tank of two killer whales. She recorded the varied language of mating, childbirth, and even grief after the birth of a stillborn calf. At the same time she made the startling observation that the whales were inventing and perfecting wonderful synchronized movements, a behavior that was soon recognized as a defining characteristic of orca society.

In 19784, Alexandra moved with her husband, photographer Robin Morton, to a remote bay in British Columbia to continue her research with wild orcas. For a few idyllic years, Alexandra and Robin shared their passion for whales, cruising the green northern waters and raising a baby boy. But tragedy struck when Robin died in a terrible accident. Only the love of her son and her abiding dedication to whale research gave Alexandra the strength to continue her groundbreaking work. Her recordings of the whales that swim by her house have led her to a deeper understanding of the mystery of whale echolocation, the vocal communication that enables the mammals to find their way in the dark sea. She continues to be among the renowned researchers attempting to break down the barriers of interspecies communication.

At once an inspiring story of a woman’s determination to live her life on her own terms and a fascinating study of the profound communion between humans and whales, this book will open your eyes anew to the wonders of the natural world. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Eyes of the Raincoast
This is the autobiography (so far) of whale researcher Alexandra Morton who came to the remote Broughton Archipelago in 1984 to study orcas and was herself woven by nature into the warp and woof of that amazing place. While telling a fascinating story the book imparts a great deal of knowledge in so painless a manner that we hardly notice. We learn, for example, that there are three kinds of orcas: "residents," who eat mostly fish; "transients" who eat mostly seals and sea lions; and "offshores" who--nobody knows for sure--may well eat mostly sharks. Though whales, both captive and free, are the stars of this story, the real star is the Broughton itself with its myriad islands and channels, its sunny summer breezes and howling winter storms. With so few people living in the Broughton, the BC government pillages its islands with clearcuts, and both levels of government cooperate to pollute its waters with open netcage salmon farms. Courageous residents fight a running battle to protect the wild coast and wild fish they love from the blindness of bureaucrats and the greed of multinational corporations. This wonderful story, which is all true, will make you cry for the ocean, and at the same time renew your hope in the power of courageous people to change the world. If you have a kayak, go and paddle through the Broughton that Alexandra and her friends are fighting to save for us. You might even be able to help.

a Love Story
I am very moved by the love and courage of Alexandra Morton. She is a paragon of free spirits, living out the dream many of us only fantasize but dare not pursue--living on a boat to follow the whales on waves. Not only she portrays the fascinating orcas with delightful insights, she also writes about her later romance and boat-life with her documentary photographer husband Robin and their baby on the boat. It's beautiful and loving account, which makes his later accident even more sorrowful and tragic, not just for her but for all of us and whales too. From this book you will be absorbed by the orcas' ways of communication and intelligence, as well as the life on the Vancouver waters and islands. After you read this book, you will look at those captured dolphines and whales and Seaworld or zoos very differently. Alexandra writes with clarity and love.

If you love the natural world, you'll love this book
Alexandra Morton writes with both her head and her heart. I read about her in a magazine and checked her book out from the library. I have purchased 5 copies to give at Christmas, knowing without a doubt that each recipient will love her story and appreciate what they will have learned. Well written with scientific knowledge embedded in a wonderful life story.

She taught me a lot!
Being a whale lover, I'm always fascinated with killer whales. Reading this book made me want to explore killer whale pods in my own home country in Indonesia (we also have them!). She's very good in weaving scientific information to popular readings, and I think that's one of Morton's unique strength.

Indeed, Morton has taught this silly marine mammal student to understand more of the marine mammal life, and their relations to our life as humans.

a Love Story
I am very moved by the love, the courage and the discipline of Alexandra Morton. She is a paragon of free spirits, living out the dream many of us only fantasize but dare not pursue--living on a boat to follow the whales on waves. Not only she portrays the fascinating orcas with delightful insights, she also writes about her later romance and boat-life with her documentary husband Robin and their baby on the boat. It's beautiful and loving account, which makes his later accident even more sorrowful and tragic, not just for her but for all of us and whales too. From this book you will be absorbed by the orcas' ways of communication and intelligence, as well as the life on the Vancouver waters and islands. After you read this book, you will look at those captured dolphines and whales and Seaworld or zoos very differently. Alexandra writes with clarity and love. ... Read more

Book Description

Graham Taylor was sitting in his kitchen one morning, contemplating the universe over a bowl of cold cereal, when he noticed a squirrel outside the window-the same squirrel he'd seen countless times before. How nice it would be, he thought, if that squirrel could be my friend. So he jotted down a few lines to that effect and displayed his creative endeavor on the fridge, which is where his friend Graham Roumieu spotted it. Roumieu illustrated these meandering thoughts and urged Taylor to do more. The rest, as they say, is history.A Really Super Book About Squirrels is a quirky little humor book that combines art and words into a collection that will appeal to both the squirrel lovers and squirrel haters among us. It's a tongue-in-cheek tribute to that backyard rodent that we really want to like. Throughout these pages, the author considers the great chasm between humans and squirrels:Sometimes while walking I see you cross the street. You run to the middle and then stop as if you've forgotten something. What is it, I wonder. You look back and forth to see if it is safe to continue, or if you should go back. Just run, I think, a car is coming. You decide to go and make it this time. This whole procedure strikes me as strange. I was taught to look both ways before I cross a street.A Really Super Book About Squirrels will be the ideal gift for anyone who's ever had a relationship with a squirrel-good or bad. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Ah what a lovely book.
This is a very sweet and joyous book. Reviews are normally detailed but I can't think of much else to say aside from the fact that its gentle and rewarding, richly illustrated and beautifuuly written.

This made me laugh out loud!
Wow, what a Hilarious book! I had forgotten what it was like to laugh out loud while reading. This little piece really is super, whether you like squirrels or not.

A Really Super Book About Squirrels, indeed!
The title says it all about this charming little book. I bought three copies and gave them to all the squirrel-lovers in my life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Explore the Wolf-Moose dynamic on Isle Royale
If you've been to Isle Royale and want to know more about the wolves, then I highly recommend this book. Most visitors to Isle Royale hope to see a wolf, and most visitors leave the island disappointed. Isle Royale is the closest thing to a closed system to study a predator-prey relationship, and is the site of one of the longest running field studies. The book has some good stories about conducting research on Isle Royale, including the winter study when the research team are the only people in the park. It also provides some insight into how theories about the wolf-moose relationship are still evolving after years of research. It also discusses the challenges the researchers faced when the wolf population took a nosedive in the late 1980's, and ponders the question of what should be done if the wolves die out on IR. This book is several years old now, so if you're interested in more recent data, contact the IR Natural History Association [URL] to get the latest report.

Of wolves and moose ... and more
I've been interested in the moose and wolves of Isle Royale since visiting the island in the early 1990s. While I spotted plenty of moose (swimming in the lakes, jumping out of the bushes in front of us on the trail, etc.), the wolves remained hidden--a mystery.

Fortunately, Rolf Peterson writes brilliantly of the side of Isle Royale that many of us will never glimpse. Peterson's work switches easily between the science and the 'experience' of studying wolves in a remote setting. The book is chock full of interesting anectodes collected from Peterson's many seasons studying the island's flora and fauna. From landing a bush plane in a white-out to dragging moose carcasses through the woods, Peterson gives us an interesting look at the what being a field scientist might be like.

It's important to note that this book is not just about wolves. Indeed, so many environmental factors shape life on Isle Royale outside of its 'headlining' mammals (moose and wolves): from beaver to fox, from spruce to elder. Peterson does a great job of explaining how the changing environment (some human-induced, some not) has impacted the island's populations.

The book also has some excellent photographs, which illustrate not only the science, but also the beauty that is Isle Royale! Highly recommended.

It will have you wanting to read more,you can't put it down.
This book has every thing drama humor and just about trying to save a beautifal anamal.the author is a respected man of science and with that you get brilant writing and great photos of the wonderful canis lupis (wolf).So If you are a wolf person like me or just someone looking for a good read it's all in this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The cow is perhaps the world's most appealing animal. Why do we love cows? Sara Rath answers that question and more in "The Complete Cow", a light-hearted yet serious look at dairy and beef cows of the world-both familiar and not-so-familiar. From ancient myths to a breed encyclopedia to a whimsical look at the fun pop culture surrounding famous cows, "The Complete Cow" has it all.

In exploring our almost innate love of cows, Rath delivers an informative and entertaining summary of bovines around the world. Remarkably readable and inviting, "The Complete Cow" is beautifully illustrated with large-format color photos of all breeds and is the first book to feature cows from around the globe, both past and present. Great color photography is accented by images both humorous (from cartoonists such as Gary Larson) and romantic (in pastoral paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and others).

Along the way readers will discover all kinds of bovine trivia: how to say "moo," "cow," and "cowpie" in many languages, a fascinating cow migration map, advice on naming a cow, and more.

". . . tells you just about everything you want to know about cows, from ancient myths to a breed encyclopedia, as well as pop culture that surrounds famous cows. Although the tone is lighthearted, there's a lot of interesting information packed into this text." "St. Paul Pioneer Press" ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An inspiring, informative view on cows. Really a good one
Sara Rath really gets deep and into her writing in this book. I enjoyed every bit about it. I thought i knew just about every thing there was to know about them being as though i was raised around them my whole life. I would recommend this book to anyone

A fabulous and thoroughly enjoyable book about cow culture.
Sara Rath's "The Complete Cow" is a gem of a book. I was amazed by the scope and in-depth coverage of cows written in friendly first person text. It 's all so readable and interesting, you just keep turning the pages for more information about these all-important and loveable beasts. The book is full of large-format color photos, side-bars, cow jokes and interesting trivia such as how to say "Moo" in eleven languages. Did you know that the age of a cow is always based on her age when she calves? Or that Texas still leads the US in beef production? Rath writes about the mythical cow in places like Egypt, Greece and Scandinavia; cow breeds of the world (Kuri, Pinzgauer and Romagnola); and the philosophy about cows. Another section I found interesting was "Holy Cow" about how the Masia tribe of Kenya andTanzania devote their lives to cattle; the importance of cattle in Irish culture; and interesting lore about the Texas Longhorn. The Complete Cow, entertaining and witty from start to finish, is a real pleasure to hold in your hands. A great gift for anyone who loves cows!

Rath writes a bovine classic!
Why are cows so trendy? Why do cow calendars sell out at Christmas before their kitten and puppy counterparts? Well, the answer was a mystery to me until Sara Rath put together her incredibly well-researched account titled, THE COMPLETE COW. This book is a gas! From the truly beautifull photography -- to the hilarious "asides" on bovine history, Rath has put together a cow compendium of unrivaled proportions. A great book for animal, trivia, and history lovers alike, this book brings together Rath's fine, storied prose and a character we can't help but love.

A book my friends and guests love to pick up, over and over.
As with so many other "ordinary" things in life, I had forgotten to think about cows, and I certainly had no idea that there are so many different types. Thank goodness we have authors, like Rath, who have the ability to re-ignite the childlike wonder in us. The Complete Cow's entertaining text and stunning photos make it exactly the kind of book that my children and friends love to pick up, over and over. I'm ordering copies for my sisters for Christmas. ... Read more

Book Description

The Stokes Beginner's Guides, intended for beginning nature lovers of all ages, offer a wealth of identification and behavior information in a portable pocket-sized format. Illustrated throughout with full-color photographs and range maps, each Beginner's Guide is organized according to the Stokes' easy-to-use and popular color-tab system. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent Bat Book!
Last Christmas I got a Bat Detector (from Bat Conservation International). The instructions with it were very poor so I asked a local naturalist if she knew of any good bat books and specifically any that would indicate what frequency to tune the bat detector in to for our local bats. She recommended this book and its terrific! There's a short section up front that talks about bats and how they echolocate as well as the frequencies that they do it at so this was perfect for me and my bat detector (boy is it cool!). The real meat of the book is an id guide with great pictures and interesting information about each ofthe different species of bats - similar to a bird id book. Since bats are genenerally out at dusk and they fly so fast I haven't been able to make use of the pictures and actually id the bats but I've narrowed it down by where we live and what we're likely to see so its fun to have a reference to read about them more specifically. Excellent excellent book and a must have if you've just gotten a bat detector and need to know what frequency to tune into. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

This new book focuses on the challenges andresponsibilities of the forensic scientist, the multidisciplinarynature of the work, and the international potential for the forensicsciences. An excellent introduction to the realities of the professionof forensic scientist. Trains in the description and analysis of humanskeletal and dental remains. Offers a well-illustrated approach toosteology training, including: a concentration on vocabulary-building, the use of case studies, and a structured approach to skeletal analysisand report-writing. An excellent text for those considering thefield of forensic science. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THIS BOOK IS GREAT!!!!
I am physician-lawyer from the Philippines. I practice in the field of Clinical Forensic Medicine with special interest in Forensic Anthropology. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in forensics-be they lawyers, physicians, judges and law enforcement officers. This book is "the" book if you want to get started in forensic anthropology and forensic osteology.It provides an introduction to osteology and how it is used to determine age, sex and race. The book outlines the basics of laboratory analysis of skeletal remains, field methods used in forensic anthropology,documentation, report writing, court testimony, and human rights application of forensic anthropology. Forensic forms used in actual cases are even included.

The book is highly recommended to students of forensic anthropology and a must read for professionals from other subspeciaties of forensics, lawyers and judges who deal with forensic cases.

A comprehensive text for my students. Highly recommended!
I am using this text in the anthropology lab with my students of Introduction to Forensic Sciences. As a former student of Dr. Ramey Burns, I am convinced she is an excellent educator who enjoys working with new generations of forensic scientists. Students from First World societies find chapter 15 extremely helpful in our seminar discussions about the importance to learn and to respect local cultures when investigating all sort of crimes. For the next edition of the manual, I would like to recommend the inclusion of scientific advancements in Latin America the author has contributed to develop. For instance, normative standards from populations with Latin American biological affiliation may be used in the identification of skeletal remains here in North America. ... Read more

Book Description

Some people prefer to walk in the woods alone. Terry DeBruyn walks with bears. Set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, this is the account of an extraordinary human-ursine story. Biologist DeBruyn believes that the only way to protect wild species is to determine precisely what they do all day.

To find out, DeBruyn pioneered a G.P.S. monitoring stystem for radio-collared bears, but he soon realized the only way to truly understand the animal is to enter her world. Not so easy when the subject is a 250-pound North American black bear with cubs. Black bears are enormously powerful animals, though very shy of humans. So, first, DeBruyn must convince an individual bear to stick around long enough to learn she has nothing to fear. When he finally accomplishes this, the rewards are immense. Carmen and her daughter Netti, and later, Netti's daughter June are ambassadors who grant us a glimpse into bear life. DeBruyn is their interpreter. He is a priviledged guest, watching intimate family scenes: nursing, grooming, and wrestling amond den mates. He learns as much about he moods and emotional life of bears as about their dietary requirements. Walking wtih Bears is an endearing tale of interspecies friendship. It will forever change the way we view one of the most fascinating and feared of all wild animals. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A GREAT BOOK FOR BLACK BEAR LOVERS
WALKING WITH BEARS IS A GREAT STORY OF ONE MANS LOVE FOR THE BLACK BEAR. TERRY DEBRUYN MAKES YOU FEEL AS THOUGH YOU ARE WITH HIM IN THE WOODS AS HE WALKS WITH THE BEARS. I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. I HOPE ONE DAY I CAN BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BEARS AROUND MY HOME AS THE AUTHOR DID. I RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO LOVES BEARS SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!

Fascinating!
If you're at all interested in the natural world around us, and concerned about how much we take for granted in this day and age, this is a sobering and fascinating look at black bears. The author tracks the lives of a family of bears (mainly 3 generations worth) over the course of a year to discuss their behaviors and their seasonal variation. Almost as a by product of this you learn a lot about bears, and the actions and motivations of potentially dangerous wild animals as a whole. I feel a lot safer being outdoors having read some of the explanations for the motivations of aggressive behavior, especially towards humans. I would say more about the book itself but I think it is best left as a surprise. Suffice it to say if you've wondered about bears or the upbringing of offspring in animals, this is a superb book. It's my first book on bears so there may be some others out there which others would suggest first, but I don't see how one could go wrong with this one.

Anyone Working With Black Bears Should Read This Book!
I have purchased 3 copies of this book for bear biologist firends. Debruyn gives a wonderful look into the private lives of black bears. I found myself comparing what he discovered with what I see working with black bears in west Texas. The book is written by someone who is dedicated to their research. There is a wealth of information on biology and ecology of black bears that is presented in a wonderful read. I read it cover to cover, then read it again.

Bonnie R. McKinney West Texas Black Bear Study

Just Amazing
I can only say that this is one amazing book. Buy it and read it. It's a rare treat.

Right Spot On
I have scoured high and low to enjoy the information that only biologists from the field can share about the intimate lives of animals. It is very hard to find information of the type in Walking with Bears, and it should be seriously digested and openly applauded. I've heard what the game commissions have had to say, and deep down inside I already knew what this book has now confirmed. The black bear should be a cherished national emblem in the wild for all generations to appreciate . After all, it is ursus americanus. ... Read more

Book Description

Offering tips for drawing more than 20 mammals indigenous to North America, this revised reference exhibits each species in several photographs as well as in field sketches. Animals featured range from the gray wolf of the Yukon Territory to the tiny Key deer of Florida and include black bears, grizzly bears, polar bears, coyotes, mountain lions, pronghorns, and bison. Included is information on habitat and range, as well as advice on starting a wildlife sketchbook. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (4)

The lives of elephants revealed
This is a wonderful book. Cynthia Moss takes the reader deep into the intricate social lives of Africa elephans in Amboseli National Park (Kenya), and leaves a profound impression. How very sensitive these animals are, and how endearing. It is entirely clear how these creatures have suffered at the hands of humans, but also nobody can read this book and not feel the urge to conserve this fantastic species. Also it may inspire some to travel to Amboseli to see the elephants 'in person' - an experience that you will never forget!

Intriguing
This is an excellent book. At first, the book seems confusing as the author continuously refers to the individual elephants on a first name basis when one has no idea of who these "people" are. As the names become more familiar and the individual stories develop, the strange names develop into a wonderful, although at times anthropomorphic story on the natural history of these gentle animals. As she warns us, the author takes the liberty of adding unwitnessed, fictional pieces to most stories, which can be confusing and at times blur the objective observations that she makes with subjective, although probably real, assumptions.
But this book is not a hard core technical text, despite glimpses of it being so in the beginning. The book is about remembering the wonderful social and behavioral characteristics of individuals that make up a population. From matriarchs to lonely males, from birth to death during periods of drought or at the hands of Masai warriors, this book gives a comprehensive insight into relevant issues affecting the survival of the African elephant. The author comes across as a human being, with emotions that go beyond the hard-core science. Although her prose is dry at times, this book is very enjoyable and opens a magnificent window into the world of the Amboseli elephants.

Thorough and moving study of elephants!
This book covers thirteen years of Cynthia Moss' research on elephants at Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Several of the elephant families residing at Amboseli are featured in this book. Cynthia Moss learned to distinguish each individual elephant by such characteristics as the shape of their ears, ear markings or the size and shape of the tusks. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of elephant life like mating, draught etc. Together with fellow researcher Joyce Poole Cynthia Moss discovered that the bulls like their Asian cousins go into musth too (the period they are the most attractive to the cows). Thus a longstanding mystery was solved. But through it all shines Cynthia Moss' deep love for the elephants, she found with them so much to recommend. Learning from them. She certainly succeeds in sharing the joy of studying and living with elephants. I warmly recommend Ian and Oria Douglas-Hamilton and Joyce Poole's books too. Indeed Cynthia Moss has found new insights but this is still the book to read on elephants in the first place.

Great Historical View of Amboseli's Elephants...
Moss' "Elephant Memories" provides intimate detail of her experiences with Amboseli's elephant herd in the 1970's-early '80s. Some of the material is dated as she has since learned new truths and details of elephant behaviors since this book was first published. One example was the discussion of the twin calves: Equninox and Eclipse. Moss was wondering if these male and female calves would be free-martens like cattle twins and unable to reproduce. Well, since those early days, the female has since matured and has had a calf. So the free-marten theory was disproved. But it was interesting to ponder. Basically, the story follows the lives of four closely related family groups--the "T" familes. In her research, she names most of the family members in one family starting with the same letter. So most of the "T" family members names start with the letter "T". I found the book to be entertaining, an elephant saga, yet informative, also. Moss teaches yet inspires empathy for these magnificent creatures. The celebration of elephant births and sorrow of their deaths with the continuation of their daily hardships--drought, killings, hunger and human encroachment are discussed in easy to read detail. "Elephant Memories" is part elephant soap opera and part Moss' speculations regarding her dealings with these pachyderms. There are two separate inserts of photos--one section is in black and white, the other is in color. For anyone who follows Moss' books and videos, it is a must to read this book. It shows photos of elephant's when she first started taking their photos up to the 13 years she researched them before publishing the book. It is interesting to see the "before" and "after" pictures of some of the younger elephants who then grew up. "Elephant Memories" is a great read. I've gotten a lot of detail in my own quest for elephant information by reading this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Annotated illustrations, descriptions, identification checklist,behavior, and sighting tips, ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Best visual field guide out there
My title sums it up. This is the ultimate book to bring on a field trip to watch whales and dolphins. The illustrations are clear and crisp and would aid anyone (even an expert would have a need for such a book) in the identification of any species (and it covers all the known ceteceans).

User-friendly Guidebook
This Eyewitness Handbook on whales, dolphins, and porpoises was extremely valuable during my recent trip to Baja Mexico to whale watch in the Sea of Cortez. The book provides a wealth of information on each species with specific descriptions and illustrations that are right on. We had two naturalists on board and they love the book too, so it's worthwhile no matter what your level of cetacean knowledge.

Outstanding field guide
This book is extremely useful to both the general reader and to those with a serious interest in cetaceans. The book is well organized for quick reference and beautifully illustrated to aid in species identification in the field. Cetaceans are grouped by family and unique characteristics are clearly defined and illustrated. In addition the book is lightweight and easily carried on a boat trip. Highly recommended.

useful but not perfect
My main objections to this field guide were the illustrations. Artistic renderings are often beautiful, but fail to portray the animal in question with accuracy. Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius)is a case in point. Although I have not observed this animal at sea myself, I spoke with a number of fellow fishery biologists who have spent time at sea as marine mammal observers and no one has ever observed a bright yellow Ziphius in the field. All observed a base color of grey with this genus, at least in the northeastern Pacific. The Tasmacetus rendering is most likely based on the J. Mammalogy (1976) paper by Watkins wherein an unidentified ziphiid whale (probable Tasmacetus) was observed from a bluff overlooking the sea in New Zealand. Useful plates were those showing all similar cetaceans together; eg. all oceanic dolphins without prominent beaks, all oceanic dolphins WITH prominent beaks etc. The ziphidae plates show male Mesoplodon characteristics, but that is to be expected since solitary female ziphiid whales, especially Mesoplodon sp., could be virtually impossible to identify. My own field guide preferences use photographs rather than artistic renderings. Other problems: The distribution maps to not reflect the full distribution (extralimital observations/strandings) of many species. An example: Psuedorca is shown as a species with a distribution much further south than observations/stranding records indicate. The text does suggest that 'numerous records' exist outside of the more tropical distribution shown in the map. Note also that many of the dolphin renderings are positioned so that the dorsal fin is right where the pages meet. We did get a chuckle over the photograph showing what you should wear when watching whales, but that can be explained by our 'silly scientist' bias. One note for potential whale-watchers: do not allow your binocular strap to lie right on the skin of your neck while at sea as you can wear painful wounds into your neck through a day of whale-watching. Make sure your shirt collar or other clothing lies under that silly strap! Voice of experience!

The Ultimate Cetacean Field Guide!
This book clearly deserves more than five stars for the great joy it will make available to you in the future by encouraging you to do more cetacean watching.

One of my pleasures is planning and taking trips to the various whale, dolphin, and porpoise rich areas in the world. When there, I spend as much time as possible on the water enjoying the views. I was particularly delighted to see that this book opens the doors to locales that I did not know about. As a result, I now have three times as many places to visit as I thought I did. Having seen the unusual species that I have missed, I now see the world much differently. That's a great gift to receive from a field guide.

Most people are unaware of the fascinating and beautiful mammal life in the oceans and rivers (yes, some dolphins live in rivers) around them. Although I live near one of the world's best cetacean watching areas, I would estimate that fewer than five percent of the people I meet have ever gone to observe the wonderful sights that are just a few minutes offshore. This guide can help change all that.

With a heightened sense of our aquatic co-species, I think that all people will have more respect for them and interest in preserving their habitats and populations.

Many people have a chance to go boating on the ocean, and see something that interests them. What is it? How should they approach it? I hope that all ocean-going boaters will buy a copy of this book to address those questions.

This is a beautiful book to hold and behold. The drawings are luscious in their subtlety of color and shape.

As a way to identify cetaceans, I cannot imagine a handbook that could be any better. The book is filled with dozens of clues for each type from length, shape, coloration, presence of typical parasites, behavior, breathing patterns, and other physical characteristics (like the shape of the teeth or baleen, blowholes, tails, heads, etc.). With so many observational points to consider, it would be very unusual to make a mistake. So the casual cetacean watcher can quickly be able to perform like an expert.

After you have finished enjoying this wonderful book, I suggest that you plan your next trip to watch cetaceans. If possible, I suggest going to some location that you have never been to before. Even if formal party boats are not available there, you can go out in the least expensive way and rely on your handbook to guide you into a better understanding of what you are seeing.

Appreciate the natural grandeur and beauty of the cetaceans . . . always! ... Read more

Book Description

This book's major contributions include a detailed description of the Manchester method of facial reconstruction, using all the available published data on tissue depths and variation with age, sex, stature and ethnic origin.Caroline Wilkinson also includes an evaluation of the methods and problems associated with reconstructing the faces of children.Forensic facial reconstruction reproduces an individual's face from skeletal remains. Used when identification is otherwise impossible, it can give a name to the dead in forensic cases, or in archaeological contexts, provide a tangible impression of real individuals from our past. ... Read more

Book Description

Mammals first evolved at about the same time as dinosaurs, and their story is perhaps the more fascinating of the two--in part because it is also our own story. In this literate and entertaining book, eminent naturalist David Rains Wallace brings the saga of ancient mammals to a general audience for the first time. Using artist Rudolph Zallinger's majestic Age of Mammals mural at the Peabody Museum as a frame for his narrative, Wallace deftly moves over varied terrain--drawing from history, science, evolutionary theory, and art history--to present a lively account of fossil discoveries and an overview of what those discoveries have revealed about early mammals and their evolution.

In these pages we encounter towering mammoths, tiny horses, giant-clawed ground sloths, whales with legs, uintatheres, zhelestids, and other exotic extinct creatures as well as the scientists who discovered and wondered about their remains. We meet such memorable figures as Georges Cuvier, Richard Owen, Edward D. Cope, George Gaylord Simpson, and Stephen Jay Gould and learn of their heated disputes, from Cuvier's and Owen's fights with early evolutionists to present controversies over the Late Cretaceous mass extinction. Wallace's own lifelong interest in evolution is reflected in the book's evocative and engaging style and in the personal experiences he expertly weaves into the tale, providing an altogether expansive perspective on what Darwin described as the "grandeur" of evolution. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since the dawn of history, no other living thing (save, possibly, the snake) has been as reviled by humankind as the wolf. Still, wolves and people have been drawn to each other since the beginning. Canis lupus bounds through our folklore, howls in our dreams, and--occasionally--competes with us on the hunt. As one zoologist imagines it: "Through the cold of winter the wolf made music in the mysterious darkness and sometimes, in curiosity, sat just beyond the dwindling circle of firelight and watched." The curiosity was mutual; this is the feared animal, ironically, that gave rise to man's best friend. Yet only recently has science begun to understand these complex social mammals. Enter biologist L. David Mech. Years of research during the 1960s in Michigan's Isle Royale National Park provided Mech with a level of firsthand knowledge shared by few in the field. In 1970 he compiled his findings (updated in 1980) into the preeminent document of its kind. Thomas McNamee, author of The Return of the Wolf to Yellowstone, calls the book the "best single source of information on wolf biology," and refers to its author as "the undisputed king of wolf research." When government officials in the early 1990s decided to embark on an ambitious project to reintroduce wolves into their former range of Yellowstone National Park, they called on Mech's expertise. All this is to say that, if you want to learn about wolves, you cannot ignore this seminal work or its author. Chapters cover wolf evolution, range, and physiology; society and pack behavior; reproduction; hunting and predator-prey relationships; and the species' uncertain future. Like any self-respecting scientist, Mech includes all the hard data, but he presents his work in an engaging manner that is accessible to a broader audience, drawing heavily on anecdotes and personal experience.

"Many people strongly dislike the wolf," Mech writes, "others rush to its defense. But no one denies that the animal is strong, powerful, intelligent, keen, and dynamic." While persecution by man has severely restricted its current status, the tide is turning, thanks to education and conservation efforts. After all, a night without a howl echoing somewhere across the landscape would surely be a colder, less alive night. --Langdon Cook ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Good Resource for anyone interested in wolves
This was the first book I studied before I bought my wolfdog. It's a great general reference book on wolves, factual and not biased. It's especially useful for understanding wolf behavior and body language, which one must aquaint one's self with before considering getting a wolfdog. Some of data is outdated, such as showing the wolf and domestic dog as separate branches on the canine family tree, but by and large it's a good reference book.

Aaawwwwoooooo!
I simply wish to echo what was said in the previous two reviews of this book. If one wants a primer on wolves for lab, classroom or at home reading this is the one to get.

It is a highly enjoyable book easy to understand for a wide ranging audience. It is my hope this book will inspire it's readers to probe deeper and consider reading further on the topic, for example: Wolves of Minong: Isle Royale's Wild Community (Ann Arbor Paperbacks) by Durward Leon Allen.

Fantastic, informative and 'A MUST READ'
For anyone with a serious interest in Wolf Ecology or Dog Psychology this is a'Must Read!'. In the book Mech draws on his own observations of wolf behaviour, as well as those of other influential wolf researchers. Full of information and observation on the ecology, sociology, behaviour and communication of wolves, I have found this book invaluable in my research into Dog Physcology, and have even applied some of what I learnt from its pages to the training of my Inuit pup.

fascinating book with many, well researched details
This book fascinates every wolf lover even more of this species, and those, who haven't decided yet what to think about wolves, might start to love them and "fight" for the recovery of this species. It gives many details about behaviour, ecology, and conservation of wolves. Despite being written in the 90ths most of its information is still up to date. This book is used by many students, but is equally suitable for the interested public as Mech manages to describe the facts in clear, understandable words. It is highly recommendable for people who want to learn more about wolves. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A Great Book for any Nature Observer
This is is a fine book devoted to famillar mammals of the US and Canada. It shows full-color illustrations and maps that show you where the specific critter lives for many different mammals. Plus it tells you what a specific mammal eats and wether it is dangerous or not. A must for all nature-lovers ! ... Read more