Decade of the Wolf Returning The Wild To Yellowstone

by Smith, Douglas,; Ferguson, Gary

• ISBN13: 9781592287000
• ISBN10: 159228700X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-04-01
• Publisher: Lyons Press

Summary

BOOK SENSE NOTABLE BOOK "By piquing our imaginations, by sparking in us a sense of wonder, Yellowstone's wolves have done much to invigorate our sense of place, even our sense of generosity, rekindling relationships that allow us to again feel at home in the world." -- Douglas Smith, Wolf Project Leader For millions of people around the world, the image of wolves running free through Yellowstone National Park has become the ultimate symbol of the American wilderness. The release of thirty-one Canadian gray wolves in 1995 and 1996-arguably the most controversial feat of conservation in our nation's history-sparked a new-found passion for these remarkable animals and the unbound lands that sustain them. Few were prepared for the outpouring of emotion sparked by the reintroduction of these wolves, and for the changes that came, both in the land and in the minds of men, with that experiment. For the first time, Douglas Smith and Gary Ferguson recount the first ten years of this historic endeavor. The journey of the wolves themselves and the people who faithfully followed them through the wilds of Yellowstone make for unforgettable reading. Here are intimate details about the lives of these animals, including wonderful stories about survival and family dynamics. Smith and award-winning nature writer Gary Ferguson weave together never-before-published scientific discoveries with spell-binding tales of the wolves' behaviors. The wolves have not only survived, but completely changed the ecosystem, spilling a fresh measure of wild across the world's first national park. . DECADE OF THE WOLF serves to mark the end of the opening act of this inspired, often tumultuous tale of preservation. DOUGLAS SMITH, PHD, Wolf Project leader, has studied wolves for twenty-four years and has worked on the reintroduction in Yellowstone since its inception. He lives in Gardiner, Montana. GARY FERGUSON is an award-winning nature writer whose books include The Great Divide: The Rocky Mountains in the American Mind, Hawks Rest: A Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone, and The Yellowstone Wolves. He has written for numerous publications including Vanity Fair, Outside, the Los Angeles Times, and Men's Journal. He lives in Red Lodge, Montana.

Author Biography

DOUGLAS SMITH, PHD, Wolf Project leader, has studied wolves for twenty-four years and has worked on the reintroduction in Yellowstone since its inception. He lives in Gardiner, Montana.

GARY FERGUSON is an award-winning nature writer whose books include The Great Divide: The Rocky Mountains in the American Mind, Hawks Rest: A Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone, and The Yellowstone Wolves. He has written for numerous publications including Vanity Fair, Outside, and Men’s Journal. He lives in Red Lodge, Montana.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
A Passion for Wolves	3	(16)
The Crossing	19	(26)
Portrait of a Wolf: Number 9	35	(10)
A Paradise Called Yellowstone	45	(18)
Portrait of a Wolf: Number 10	59	(4)
The Shape of Home	63	(22)
Portrait of a Wolf: Number 42	77	(8)
Filling the Wilds with Wolves	85	(12)
Portrait of a Wolf: Number 5	93	(4)
The Coming of the Wolf Watchers	97	(20)
Portrait of a Wolf: Number 14	109	(8)
The Wolf Effect	117	(20)
Portrait of a Wolf: Number 7	133	(4)
This Feast of Science	137	(32)
The View from Ten Years Out	169	(18)
Epilogue	187	(4)
Volunteers	191	(2)
Graphs	193	(6)
Endnotes	199	(6)
About the Authors	205	(2)
Index	207