Wolves

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

For many people who love wildlife, wolves are the example par excellence
of nature abused and now, perhaps, resurgent. Wolves reflects these
concerns and hopes with energy and beauty. The introduction reviews the
natural success and historical victimization of wolves, modes of
communication, and aspects of interactions with humans over their wide
range (well illustrated by map), and our deep misunderstanding of these
essentially shy animals. “Social Behavior” discusses social
integration through howling (not at the moon!) and scent marking,
monogamy (mostly), and dynamics in the pack; this section demonstrates
why wolves are so attractive. Under “Hunting in the Wilderness,”
powerful text and photographs combine to examine the tactics used
against different prey. The epilogue recounts conservation efforts,
including recent books and films that have facilitated them. Throughout,
the text is vigorous and informative, featuring such tidbits as the
movement of caribou-hunting packs with their prey; it is also greatly
enhanced by many superb and dramatic photographs (but the captions are
often on the adjacent or overleaf page). There are suggested readings
(although not, strangely, the classic work by David Mech), and an index.
Altogether, this volume is eloquent testimony to ongoing concerns about
the fate of wildlife before the human onslaught.