Wolf: Wild Hunter of North America

Patrick Colgan is associate director of programs at the Canadian Museum
of Nature.

Author Bruce Obee, who has produced other recent books on Canadian birds
and wildlife, here turns his attention to the gray wolf. The book is
arranged in five sections. “Encounters” is an account of
photographer meeting wolf that leads to a discussion of the contemporary
situation of the wolf, especially its much-reduced range. “Season of
Birth” discusses the importance of territoriality and dominance by the
alpha breeding pair, denning, and the early life (and often death) of
the pups. “Life in the Pack” includes the establishment of groups,
social dynamics and tensions, territorial defence, communication
(visual, auditory, and chemical), and reactions to humans. In
“Predator and Prey,” a musk ox kill is described, along with the
wolf as a predator, types of prey, and the thorny issue of surplus
killing. “Saving the Wolf” gives a history of wolf hunting, as well
as conservation efforts (particularly the 1973 Wolf Manifesto of the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and controversies
over reintroductions of populations.

The text is relaxed and informative, and includes excerpts from other
accounts of these animals. The excellent photographs, which comprise
much of the book, effectively illustrate the activities of wolves, while
avoiding sex and violence. Overall, this material provides a detailed
yet low-keyed and attractive presentation on a species of enduring
interest.