Trail of the Wolf

by R.D. Lawrence

The wolf has caught the imagination of people everywhere for centuries. Today, thousands journey to wilderness parks in the hope of seeing this elusive creature or hearing its haunting howl. Yet the mythology surrounding the wolf frequently conjures up the image of a bloodthirsty, marauding beast. In fact, there is no record of a wolf killing a human in North America, and it is thought that those reported in Europe were committed by rabid animals or mastiff-wolf hybrids. Trail of the Wolf seeks to dispel the myths that have often resulted in the persecution of one of the world's most fascinating animals. R. D. Lawrence's love of wolves is communicated throughout the text, as he introduces the reader to every facet of the life of this wild hunter. In a detailed account of the wolf's biology, he explores the differences between the wolf and other canids, its elaborate social structure, the part its senses play in its ability to survive in the wild, its hunting methods and prey, and the formation of a new pack. The author's personal experiences with wolves reveal the animal as it is rarely seen - at play, on the hunt, and rearing its young. The final chapters on the wolf's relationship with humans and its status worldwide contain a plea for the preservation of the wolf and its wilderness habitat. Trail of the Wolf is beautifully illustrated by top wildlife photographers. The outstanding photographs feature wolves from around the world. Images of prey species and the wolf's close relatives, as well as maps and line drawings, add to the visual excitement of this superb volume.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Wolves

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

R.D. Lawrence was a Canadian naturalist and wildlife author. Born aboard ship in the Bay of Biscay off the coast of Spain on September 12, 1921, he moved to Canada in 1954. RD Lawrence died of Alzheimer's on November 27, 2003 in Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada.

RD Lawrence's many books are published in 26 countries and 15 languages and take us to animal habitats far from humans; to the boreal forests of North America alive with puma, beaver, bear, timber wolves and eagles, to the frigid waters of the Pacific Northwest where orcas thrive, and to the sharks of the Red Sea.

Reviews

[Matthew Dalzell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the very first non-fiction/personal story wolf biology books that I became exposed to, and from the very first chapter, I was hooked. There was and still is something intriguing about the manner in which the late Mr. Lawrence writes: a tone, a color, fused into his narratives and definitions like mountain air into one's own lungs. Though the book is certainly less on the technical end-of-things in comparison to a textbook from Mech, R.D. Lawrence has done a nice job bridging the gap between the facts and the entertainment. A well-blended book that makes for a great read.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely photos and interesting information.