Return of the Wolf: Conflict and Coexistence

by Paula Wild

Wolves were once common throughout North America and Eurasia. But by the early twentieth century, bounties and organized hunts had drastically reduced their numbers. Today, the wolf is returning to its ancestral territories, and the “coywolf”―a smaller, bolder wolf-coyote hybrid―is becoming more common. In  Return of the Wolf , author Paula Wild gathers first-hand accounts of encounters with wolves and consults with wildlife experts for suggestions on how minimize conflict, respond to aggressive wolves and coexist with the apex predator. Wild explores the latest theories on how wolves became dogs, the evolving strategies to prevent livestock predation, and why Eurasian wolves seem more aggressive toward humans than their North American cousins. She also addresses the many misconceptions about for example, that they howl when hungry, kill for pleasure and always live in packs. What  is  true is that a wolf possesses a howl as unique as a human fingerprint and can trot eight kilometres per hour for most of the day or night in search of prey while using earth’s magnetic field to find its way. Some scientists consider wolves’ complex social structures and family bonds closer to humans’ than those of primates. In a skillful blend of natural history, Indigenous stories and interviews with scientists and conservationists, Wild examines our evolving relationship with wolves and how society’s attitudes affect the populations, behaviour and conservation of wolves today. As a highly social, intelligent animal, the wolf is proving adept at navigating the challenges of an ever-changing landscape. But their fate remains uncertain. Wolves are adapting to humans; can humans adapt to wolves?

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published March 2, 2019

Reviews

[... · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could sum it up both as "a lot of basics and regurgitated info, thrown in chaotically without much thought put into it, served dry" and "a neat summary of many recent scientific findings, illustrated with some great photos." I'll go with both, I guess, not to be too harsh because it's not a bad book. It's just that hardly anything was news to me (I've already read most of the sources the author used, so I suppose someone who's not researching wolves any chance they've got may find a lot of it interesting) and the writing wasn't spectacular.

I appreciated the level-headed approach, something rare in wolf-themed literature. And the chapters dealing with the recent wolf-human encounters in British Columbia were interesting. So it's a decent reference book overall, with lots of fascinating tidbits, but ultimately a little disappointing, as it doesn't offer much original material.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. This book provides a well-rounded discussion and did an excellent job explaining the complexity of human-wolf coexistence (as well as wildlife management). The detailed breakdown of the polarized opinions on wolves is intriguing.

Additionally, I appreciate how the author took on a neutral tone and showed a highly realistic portrayal of wolves by exploring both the beauty and the danger of these animals. It is nice to see how wolves are not just the victim of human legislations or just the savage killer, but potentially both or a gradient of everything in between. There are also lots of thoughtful discussions on topics such as wildlife awareness, wolf-dogs, etc. This is a very educational read, and I learned many interesting facts through this book.

[John Geary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and thought-provoking book. The author spends a great deal of time travelling to investigate wolf encounters that people around BC, Alberta, and some places in the northern US have experienced. She talks to several experts and weaves their stories in with her own experiences and thoughts to produce a very good read.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book and easy to read. A lot of information. You do not need to be a connoisseur to read this book.

[Pat King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, thought provoking

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chock full of information and very readable, if you have any interest in wolves or spend much time camping, you should read this.

[Doriana Bisegna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I attended a talk given by this author and I was so intrigued, I bought the book. I have learnt so much from this author about wolves. Very interesting subject and written to appeal to the reader.

[Rhys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and engaging narrative about wolves, and wolf-human interaction. Remember: maintain eye contact and don't run (or growl, as if anyone would really growl at a wild wolf!)

[Fredrik deBoer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and well-told consideration about the resiliency and vulnerability of a truly remarkable species of animal.

[Virginie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extrêmement informatif et éducatif.