Wolf : The Illustrated Biography - Douglas W. Smith

A stunningly illustrated exploration of the lives of wolves around the worldHunted to near extinction, wolves evoke a sense of our planet's dwindling wildernesses. Rather than fear them, we should better understand the crucial role they play in ecosystems throughout the world. This engaging, fact-filled book shares insights into the family histories, relationships, and significant life challenges of wolves while linking them to broader questions about wildlife conservation and management. Written by a world-renowned expert in wolf behavior and reintroduction, Wolf: The Illustrated Biography offers a unique perspective on these charismatic animals, charting the life stories of wolves in all their diversity and complexity. Profiles wolves from North America, Europe, and Asia, describing their key characteristics, habitats, distinguishing features, common prey, and distinctive behaviorsDiscusses evolutionary history, biology, ecology, taxonomy, and past and current geographical distributionCovers key stages in the lives of wolves, from pregnancy and den building to birth and adolescence, play fights and learning to hunt, traveling with and leaving the pack, social hierarchy and bonds within packs, communication, territoriality, and moreEmphasizes the leadership role of alpha females in the everyday life of the packExplores the complex relationship between wolves and humans throughout historyConsiders the prospects for wolf populations in an age of accelerating environmental degradation