Desert Wildlife

by Edmund C. Jaeger

This series of essays offers the general reader a wonderful insight into the life and habits of several of the dwellers of the desert of the southwestern part of the United States and northwestern Mexico.

Genres: Animals

322 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1950, this book is a great primer on desert animals of the southwest and Mexico. Each animal or animal group gets its own chapter, with the author describing general behavior and habitat and providing anecdotal stories about his personal encounters with creatures in the desert. It's certainly written in that old style of scientific field work, where half of the stuff is a story, which makes it rather enjoyable. The author is very much in love with all creatures, which is endearing. Recommended for those who want to learn more about the desert while being entertained.

[Bob Peru · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love desert and learned a lot reading the master’s book. jaeger was one of if not the foremost authority of american deserts in his time.

[David Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've no doubt learned much more about desert wildlife in the 65 years since Jaeger's book was published, but it's mildly enjoyable reading even for a non-naturalist. Jaeger died in 1983 at age 96 in Riverside, California. His field observations of nests being built, kit foxes at play or bugs drawn to his campfire are captivating and sometimes vivid. He sees personalities and quirks. The more scientific aspects to this book were necessary but hard to stay engaged with, especially this far removed. Hence, 3 stars.

[David Canon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my read 5 pages before bed book for a while. Each short chapter profiles a species of special interest to the author, including plants and animals from the American west. There are some really enjoyable anecdotes from the author that add color to the read; you can tell that this book was written by a truly seasoned field biologist and natural historian. I would definitely recommend it.