Mammals of Alberta

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

Much of the material in these two volumes is taken from previous Lone
Pine publications. (The publisher has become quite proficient at
repackaging material from its earlier publications into guides for
slightly different geographic areas.) In the case of Mammals of the
Rocky Mountains, for example, the text has been expanded and rewritten
to take in the broader geographic area. References to habitat have been
broadened to include the wider range. The range maps have been expanded
to take in the whole Rocky Mountain chain. Although the cover note
maintains that 91 mammals are included, the Rocky Mountain volume in
fact covers a total of 126. In recognition of the large American market,
units have been switched to imperial, with metric following in brackets.


Both guides follow Lone Pine’s typical field-guide format. There are
thumbnail images at the front, followed by two-page descriptions of the
animals, with photographs and drawings. The photographs, mainly by Terry
Parker, are impressive and the reproduction quality is very good as
well.

The Alberta volume is more specific than the Rocky Mountain volume. The
maps are at a more useful scale and good Alberta viewing sites are
listed. Anyone studying wildlife in Alberta will require only the
Alberta volume. Most public libraries in Alberta will want to buy this
volume. People who have a particular interest in mammals in the southern
Rockies will want the Rocky Mountain volume.