A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West
Nate Blakeslee
Non-Fiction/ History
PRICE:$28.00
ISBN:978-1-101-90278-3
RELEASE:Oct 17th, 2017
FORMATHardcover
CATEGORY:Nature - Animals - Wolves
FTC Reviewed for Blogging for Books
Description
The enthralling story of the rise and reign of O-Six, the celebrated Yellowstone wolf, and the people who loved or feared her
Before men ruled the earth, there were wolves. Once abundant in North America, these majestic creatures were hunted to near extinction in the lower 48 states by the 1920s. But in recent decades, conservationists have brought wolves back to the Rockies, igniting a battle over the very soul of the West.
With novelistic detail, Nate Blakeslee tells the gripping story of one of these wolves, O-Six, a charismatic alpha female named for the year of her birth. Uncommonly powerful, with gray fur and faint black ovals around each eye, O-Six is a kind and merciful leader, a fiercely intelligent fighter, and a doting mother. She is beloved by wolf watchers, particularly renowned naturalist Rick McIntyre, and becomes something of a social media star, with followers around the world.
But as she raises her pups and protects her pack, O-Six is challenged on all fronts: by hunters, who compete with wolves for the elk they both prize; by cattle ranchers who are losing livestock and have the ear of politicians; and by other Yellowstone wolves who are vying for control of the park’s stunningly beautiful Lamar Valley.
These forces collide in American Wolf, a riveting multigenerational saga of hardship and triumph that tells a larger story about the ongoing cultural clash in the West—between those fighting for a vanishing way of life and those committed to restoring one of the country’s most iconic landscapes.
May contain spoilers
My Thoughts
I tend to gravitate to history and biology books and American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee, piqued my curiosity.
Having 3 canines, I believe they are very similar to their ancestors. Even with our dogs, I get the opportunity to observe their pack like and territorial behavior. At different times, I witness who is dominant and how they go about establishing boundaries and defending territory.
In this read, we learn about Yellowstone's intra-pack rivalry that resulted in druids killing the alpha and we learn about alpha female O-Six reign.
I was hooked on this book from the prologue. As someone who enjoys reading, there are some words that lure me in. And "trudged' is one of them.
Perhaps it reminds me of the time I went hiking in New Hampshire with my brother who is about a foot taller than me, and in much better shape. Thankfully, he allowed me to catch up, but it was a long trudge back to the vehicle. And even though exhausted, I would not have wanted to miss the journey.
This read is an eye opener to the American Wolf's plight!
We learn about the wolves and people who spend their lives studying these majestic creatures, while others hunt them, in the extraordinary beauty, that is, and surrounds, Yellowstone National Park.
Through this well written book of notes and amazingly detailed observations, we witness the journey of the American Wolf as it trudged through an eradication program, to a conservation movement.
For me, there was a gamut of emotions felt, with the turning of each and every page.