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The Wanderer: An Alaska Wolf’s Final Journey
"A precise, lyrical account of an exceptional animal’s life."--Bryce Andrews, author of Down from the Mountain The Wanderer is the first book ever to chart a wolf’s movements for an extended period of time, almost to the day. Award-winning author Tom Walker draws on unparalleled access to a research study of wolves in Alaska to share the story of Wolf 258, nicknamed "the Wanderer." Relying on a GPS collar that recorded the animal’s coordinates each day, biologists tracked Wolf 258 as he moved through the wilderness---and, astonishingly, traveled more than 2600 miles in less than six months.
Through the lens of one wolf’s epic journey, Walker highlights connections to terrain, history, looming threats, and other animals. He recounts the animal’s compelling final months, while examining the broader complexity of the species’ struggle for survival. The Wanderer explores not only the natural history of wolves but the relationship of people--Indigenous, pioneers and settlers, biologists, politicians--with this predator, shedding light on the long-established northern traditions of trapping and hunting, the tangled politics of wolf management, and how artificial borders fail to contain this iconic species.
Through the lens of one wolf’s epic journey, Walker highlights connections to terrain, history, looming threats, and other animals. He recounts the animal’s compelling final months, while examining the broader complexity of the species’ struggle for survival. The Wanderer explores not only the natural history of wolves but the relationship of people--Indigenous, pioneers and settlers, biologists, politicians--with this predator, shedding light on the long-established northern traditions of trapping and hunting, the tangled politics of wolf management, and how artificial borders fail to contain this iconic species.
176 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2023
16 people are currently reading
1022 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 2, 2023
Nature writing at its best. Beautiful descriptions of a place few are lucky enough to.visit. The sprawling territory of Northern Alaska and Canada, few human inhabitants , and the authors love for this place and its life forms is readily apparent. Although he followed one particular wolf, taking the reader with him, he also covers other subjects. Natural.history, climate change, animal and.human relationships and Alaska politic pertaining to this subject. PARTS are heartbreaking.
I.should mention that I.am.thoroughly against hunting for.a sport. If one is in the wilderness and needs to kill for food, that's one thing but killing to.hang a head on.a wall or to.make a hat or coat is to.me despicable. Our cruelty to animals seeseems to.have no.bounds and if I didn't already dislike Sarah Palin after tHis book, I would.
Okay off mY soapbox now. I.learned much about wolves, their packs and interactions with other animals. I listened to.the audio bUt the book.will contain photographs and maps so.the reader can follow the trail of The Wanderer.
The narration was clear and concise. Well done.
I.should mention that I.am.thoroughly against hunting for.a sport. If one is in the wilderness and needs to kill for food, that's one thing but killing to.hang a head on.a wall or to.make a hat or coat is to.me despicable. Our cruelty to animals seeseems to.have no.bounds and if I didn't already dislike Sarah Palin after tHis book, I would.
Okay off mY soapbox now. I.learned much about wolves, their packs and interactions with other animals. I listened to.the audio bUt the book.will contain photographs and maps so.the reader can follow the trail of The Wanderer.
The narration was clear and concise. Well done.
April 28, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for providing a free advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
Listening to this book is like watching a documentary in your mind. I was surprised by the vivid images elicited by the descriptions. The author also adeptly intertwines the story of Wolf 258 (nicknamed The Wanderer) with stories about the local people, discussions on exploitation of the land by immigrants and the discourse over what constitutes (and how to re-balance) a healthy ecosystem. The author did a good job at incorporating tracking data with wolf behavior information, to approximate the encounters and challenges The Wanderer faced in his over 2000 miles journey. However, because no direct observation of the wolf was possible excepting at collaring and after death, the story remains at times cold and detached. Nonetheless, even though we know from the beginning that The Wanderer won't survive more than one year, and we anticipate starvation will be what kills him, I was heartbroken when he finally laid down for his final rest. Even in the absence of direct visual confirmation, the wolf's distress was apparent from his final movements. The book made me angry at our specie's inability to stick to and enforce conservation efforts, and the author succeeded in providing highlights of human's negative effect on the planet.
Where the book lacked in my opinion was in providing more science on why conservation efforts have failed. We have done so much to tip the natural ecosystems off balance, that just restoring a species here and there and waiting for 3 years is unlikely to give us a response. I don't believe that scientists were given enough time to speak in favor of the wolves. As a matter of fact, I was slightly upset how much time was offered to hunter's wishes and views. I also had some concern that the science was not accurate--the author referred to alpha/dominant males and females several times. However, I understand from recent articles that those pack hierarchies were artifacts of wolves bred in captivity (see for e.g. https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...). Wild wolves live in families, making the dominant male and female mom and dad--of course the children obey mom and dad and are unlikely to breed with each other.
I recommend this book primarily for everyone interested in contributing to conservation efforts.
Listening to this book is like watching a documentary in your mind. I was surprised by the vivid images elicited by the descriptions. The author also adeptly intertwines the story of Wolf 258 (nicknamed The Wanderer) with stories about the local people, discussions on exploitation of the land by immigrants and the discourse over what constitutes (and how to re-balance) a healthy ecosystem. The author did a good job at incorporating tracking data with wolf behavior information, to approximate the encounters and challenges The Wanderer faced in his over 2000 miles journey. However, because no direct observation of the wolf was possible excepting at collaring and after death, the story remains at times cold and detached. Nonetheless, even though we know from the beginning that The Wanderer won't survive more than one year, and we anticipate starvation will be what kills him, I was heartbroken when he finally laid down for his final rest. Even in the absence of direct visual confirmation, the wolf's distress was apparent from his final movements. The book made me angry at our specie's inability to stick to and enforce conservation efforts, and the author succeeded in providing highlights of human's negative effect on the planet.
Where the book lacked in my opinion was in providing more science on why conservation efforts have failed. We have done so much to tip the natural ecosystems off balance, that just restoring a species here and there and waiting for 3 years is unlikely to give us a response. I don't believe that scientists were given enough time to speak in favor of the wolves. As a matter of fact, I was slightly upset how much time was offered to hunter's wishes and views. I also had some concern that the science was not accurate--the author referred to alpha/dominant males and females several times. However, I understand from recent articles that those pack hierarchies were artifacts of wolves bred in captivity (see for e.g. https://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...). Wild wolves live in families, making the dominant male and female mom and dad--of course the children obey mom and dad and are unlikely to breed with each other.
I recommend this book primarily for everyone interested in contributing to conservation efforts.
November 13, 2023
This is a remarkable study of what it takes for wolves to survive in an Alaska that is rapidly altering due to climate change and the changing migration patterns of the moose and caribou they feed on. A single male wolf dispersed from a pack, Wolf 258 - nicknamed "The Wanderer" - is tracked via a GPS collar; the author speculates about what might be happening in its range in terms of feeding and mating as it moves from place to place, travelling nearly 3000 miles in less than six months. I learned so much about the wolves of Alaska (having previously tended towards books about wolves in the vicinity of Yellowstone), as well as about history, natural history, flora and fauna, geography, and the effects of climate change. If you love learning about animals and their habitats, this is an excellent read and resource. I listened to the skillful narration by Tom Beyer as I read along.
April 7, 2025
3.75/5.00
July 20, 2025
What I loved most about this book was the way Tom Walker brought the wolf’s journey vividly to life—not just by tracking its path, but by giving deep context to the land it moved through. As the wolf traveled across vast stretches of wilderness, Walker described each area through the lens of seasonal change, natural history, and his own time spent in the field. His experience in places like Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve added a rich, firsthand perspective that made the landscape feel immediate and alive. This is more than just the story of one remarkable animal—it’s a tribute to the wild heart of Alaska itself.
May 18, 2024
Honestly this book was very disappointing. I've found wolf books (especially Ricky McIntyre's) that allow readers to connect with the wolves a lot more and tell a more engaging story without too much anthropomorphism. This one felt flat in comparison. It just kind of laid out the facts and went off on random tangents that sometimes went on for so long I lost the little semblance of a story there was. There were some attempts at very descriptive moments where Walker tried to relate to the wolf, but in McIntyre's books his care for the wolves and dedication to observing them is so obvious. I couldn't really find Walker's here
April 23, 2023
Audiobook, 6hr 47m Narrator Tom Beyer
Fascinating. Not just the story of wolf #258, dubbed Wanderer by the author, but the story behind the story, so to speak. Also, as an Alaskan, kudos to narrator Tom Beyer. Some of the native terms and names are tongue twisters but he makes them sound easy.
As usual for me, I listened to much of the book while driving, hence no extensive notes. I recall chuckling and looking down at my dog hair coated black pants -- Black? What was I thinking? -- when it was mentioned that wolves, just like dogs, shed. Researchers have been able to learn much more important things about wolves, however, via collaring. I could be wrong, not the first time, but "back in the day" when collaring of wildlife first began, it seemed like once the collar was in place, the only time new info was found was when the wildlife had another human encounter and they could compare location and basic physical information from earlier. Insight, yes, but not detailed.
Nowadays, to be simplistic the collars bounce info off satellites almost constantly, giving researchers insight into the animals daily life and activities. This information provided author Tom Walker with a wealth of information. It ranged from location and movement, obviously a vital element of this story, to educated guesses based on said movement or lack of movement as to when the animals fed or rested. Wolves, in particular, are creatures of habit, so behavior out of the ordinary definitely got researchers attention. Thus was the case with wolf 258's long, long journey, one that earned him the nickname of the Wanderer.
I won't detail the story here, it's far better read (or, in my case, listened to). I'll simply say that there is a wealth of information here on not just Wanderer's journey but the history of wolf research and some of the human players involved. I loved how certain locations Wanderer passed through lead to some sharing of human history, too, from those who hunted wolves to those who'd steal wolf cubs and sell them to mushers, claiming it'd improve their dog teams. There's also a discussion of how wolf numbers may or may not have an impact on the numbers of other species and how human attempts to control nature, ie wildlife numbers, may result in exactly the opposite of the desired outcome. There's definitely a scientific/research oriented feel to the full story, so kudos to Walker for weaving it together in such an intriguing story. Definitely worth the read and, heck, you'll even learn some Alaskan history in the process.
Thanks #NetGalley and #TantorAudio for sharing this intriguing look at one of the most fascinating animals in Alaska (and we have many). I highly recommend this to those with an interest in wildlife, animal research, or just want to know more about some of the critters that still roam about Alaska, wild and free.
Fascinating. Not just the story of wolf #258, dubbed Wanderer by the author, but the story behind the story, so to speak. Also, as an Alaskan, kudos to narrator Tom Beyer. Some of the native terms and names are tongue twisters but he makes them sound easy.
As usual for me, I listened to much of the book while driving, hence no extensive notes. I recall chuckling and looking down at my dog hair coated black pants -- Black? What was I thinking? -- when it was mentioned that wolves, just like dogs, shed. Researchers have been able to learn much more important things about wolves, however, via collaring. I could be wrong, not the first time, but "back in the day" when collaring of wildlife first began, it seemed like once the collar was in place, the only time new info was found was when the wildlife had another human encounter and they could compare location and basic physical information from earlier. Insight, yes, but not detailed.
Nowadays, to be simplistic the collars bounce info off satellites almost constantly, giving researchers insight into the animals daily life and activities. This information provided author Tom Walker with a wealth of information. It ranged from location and movement, obviously a vital element of this story, to educated guesses based on said movement or lack of movement as to when the animals fed or rested. Wolves, in particular, are creatures of habit, so behavior out of the ordinary definitely got researchers attention. Thus was the case with wolf 258's long, long journey, one that earned him the nickname of the Wanderer.
I won't detail the story here, it's far better read (or, in my case, listened to). I'll simply say that there is a wealth of information here on not just Wanderer's journey but the history of wolf research and some of the human players involved. I loved how certain locations Wanderer passed through lead to some sharing of human history, too, from those who hunted wolves to those who'd steal wolf cubs and sell them to mushers, claiming it'd improve their dog teams. There's also a discussion of how wolf numbers may or may not have an impact on the numbers of other species and how human attempts to control nature, ie wildlife numbers, may result in exactly the opposite of the desired outcome. There's definitely a scientific/research oriented feel to the full story, so kudos to Walker for weaving it together in such an intriguing story. Definitely worth the read and, heck, you'll even learn some Alaskan history in the process.
Thanks #NetGalley and #TantorAudio for sharing this intriguing look at one of the most fascinating animals in Alaska (and we have many). I highly recommend this to those with an interest in wildlife, animal research, or just want to know more about some of the critters that still roam about Alaska, wild and free.
June 8, 2023
This is the adventures of Wolf 258, nicknamed the Wonderer, in the Alaskan Yukon. Through this incredible journey “the Wanderer” covers thousands of miles and experiences all that the wilderness has to offer. Through massive amounts of field notes and research, some of which was accessed through the wolfs collar, readers better understand the life and habitat of the wolf.
This book was great and I learned a lot more about the Yukon wilderness and how wildlife, vegetation, insects, and humans interact and are interdependent on one another. In one scene a male and female wolf come upon each other and they go through the howling and greetings. As I was listening all I could think about is how spicy romance booktok would have created a tiktok about it with two humans doing the same thing. This comment is not meant to detract from the book itself, but it was something that went through my mind. This would be a good for youth or adults to read and enjoy.
The narrator was great, the voice was clear and easy to follow. I started listening at normal speed and then sped up to 2.5.
#NetGalley and Tantor Audio provided an Advanced Audio Copy.
This book was great and I learned a lot more about the Yukon wilderness and how wildlife, vegetation, insects, and humans interact and are interdependent on one another. In one scene a male and female wolf come upon each other and they go through the howling and greetings. As I was listening all I could think about is how spicy romance booktok would have created a tiktok about it with two humans doing the same thing. This comment is not meant to detract from the book itself, but it was something that went through my mind. This would be a good for youth or adults to read and enjoy.
The narrator was great, the voice was clear and easy to follow. I started listening at normal speed and then sped up to 2.5.
#NetGalley and Tantor Audio provided an Advanced Audio Copy.
April 28, 2023
What an interesting documentation of the life of one wolf called N258 by researchers. In the first few chapters I kept thinking, ‘Walker, give him a name not a number, even if just for us.’ Finally, a few chapters in Walker did just that; The Wanderer.
For anyone interested in reading about the lives of wild animals or animal research this is the book for you. It does discuss some of the issues that wild animals in Alaska and Canada’s Yukon have had to deal with in terms of anthropogenic interference. It also to demonstrated the loneliness of a lone wolf.
What I really appreciate is that the author makes it clear where there is conjecture and where there are actual facts in order to complete a story of the life of The Wanderer.
Thank you @netgalley and @tantoraudio for the opportunity to listen to the journey of The Wanderer.
For anyone interested in reading about the lives of wild animals or animal research this is the book for you. It does discuss some of the issues that wild animals in Alaska and Canada’s Yukon have had to deal with in terms of anthropogenic interference. It also to demonstrated the loneliness of a lone wolf.
What I really appreciate is that the author makes it clear where there is conjecture and where there are actual facts in order to complete a story of the life of The Wanderer.
Thank you @netgalley and @tantoraudio for the opportunity to listen to the journey of The Wanderer.
May 7, 2023
The Wanderer follows a collared Alaskan grey wolf through the final seasons of his life, as he travels 2700 miles over the course of 6 months in search of food and a mate. Using the coordinates shared by his tracking collar and field notes from the team studying the wolves at Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, author Tom Walker tells the story of why Wolf 258 made this journey and the events that likely happened to him each day.
In addition to Wolf 258’s story, he also delves into grey wolves’ relationship with humans and other animals in the area and delves into the history and politics of attempting to manage wolf populations. This was an interesting and informative audiobook, and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about grey wolves.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
In addition to Wolf 258’s story, he also delves into grey wolves’ relationship with humans and other animals in the area and delves into the history and politics of attempting to manage wolf populations. This was an interesting and informative audiobook, and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about grey wolves.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
July 5, 2023
Up close with a wild wolf
Tom Walker’s real-life story of a wolf nicknamed "The Wanderer" takes the reader through Alaska's eastern interior and Canada's Yukon Territory, a remote wilderness region few tourists will ever visit. In five and one-half months, satellite-collared Wolf 258, “The Wanderer," covered an estimated distance of almost 3,000 miles from near the Arctic Circle to the north along the Beauford Sea and back. Along the journey, Tom details the varied wilderness habitats, mighty rivers, severe Arctic weather, wolves’ behaviors, and human policies and past practices towards them. This book is a must-read account of wild wolves. Tom Walker's comprehensive understanding of the region and its wildlife is evident from writing about and living in Alaska for over 50 years. --Douglas Pfeiffer, former Publishing Director, Alaska Northwest Books/Graphic Arts Books.
Tom Walker’s real-life story of a wolf nicknamed "The Wanderer" takes the reader through Alaska's eastern interior and Canada's Yukon Territory, a remote wilderness region few tourists will ever visit. In five and one-half months, satellite-collared Wolf 258, “The Wanderer," covered an estimated distance of almost 3,000 miles from near the Arctic Circle to the north along the Beauford Sea and back. Along the journey, Tom details the varied wilderness habitats, mighty rivers, severe Arctic weather, wolves’ behaviors, and human policies and past practices towards them. This book is a must-read account of wild wolves. Tom Walker's comprehensive understanding of the region and its wildlife is evident from writing about and living in Alaska for over 50 years. --Douglas Pfeiffer, former Publishing Director, Alaska Northwest Books/Graphic Arts Books.
July 12, 2023
The Wanderer: An Alaska Wolf's Final Journey is authored by Tom Walker. A nonfiction published in 2023.
The story takes place in the Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve. In 171 pages the author creates a concise story about Wolf 258's last known travels via the satellite collar the animal wears. Casually called The Wanderer, the male wolf died around October 18, 2011. He had showed signs of nutritional deficiency and starvation.
The book includes an Epilogue and Author's Notes, maps drawn with the trails The Wanderer took and photographs.
If you are interested in wildlife and their contributions to this planet or how wolves are a vital measure of our ecosystem, I highly recommend this book.
The story takes place in the Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve. In 171 pages the author creates a concise story about Wolf 258's last known travels via the satellite collar the animal wears. Casually called The Wanderer, the male wolf died around October 18, 2011. He had showed signs of nutritional deficiency and starvation.
The book includes an Epilogue and Author's Notes, maps drawn with the trails The Wanderer took and photographs.
If you are interested in wildlife and their contributions to this planet or how wolves are a vital measure of our ecosystem, I highly recommend this book.
January 19, 2025
Wolf 258 traverses nearly 3,000 miles in less than six months across remote lands of Alaska and into the Arctic circle. A mostly solo journey, constantly on the hunt for food, dodging confrontation with other wolves, wolf packs, moose, and anything that could cause injury. He follows the migratory routes of Alaskan caribou herds, only to successfully make a kill a few times. Ultimately, his long journey came to an end as he succumbed to starvation.
January 20, 2025
Tom Walker is a local author where I live in Denali. I’m a huge fan of his writing; his ability to weave research and boring data into stories is inspiring. This is his latest book, and no surprise, it's just as fantastic as the others. He often gives local presentations about this book, so I'm hoping to attend one to hear more about the story (the last one he hosted was jam-packed with 100+ people!).
May 5, 2023
If it deals with animals, I'm in. I regret not listening to my younger self who wanted to become a vet. That being said, watching animals in their natural habitat is wildly fascinating. This book gives an in-depth look into the life of one particular wolf and the species of wolves as a whole. Really insightful and well-written.
November 23, 2025
I listen to the audio version. It came across as rather biased and preachy, part of which could be the emphasis placed by the narrator. Some interesting bits of history on the geography of Alaska. Overall felt more Disney-like than scientifically interesting.
June 7, 2023
This book allows the reader to immerse themselves in the amazing life and journey of a wolf in the North Country. What an amazing animal. This e-book was received from Goodreads.
June 12, 2023
I thought it was well done. I learned new facts. Did a good job entwining the story of the lone wolf with history and events happening in humanity around it.
December 21, 2023
I like wolves.
Favourite quote from the book: the azure sky is cloudless
Favourite quote from the book: the azure sky is cloudless
January 4, 2024
Wolves are interesting creatures.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews