Customer Reviews

In the Company of Moose

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am an avid reader of Alaskan literature, having lived there for several years working in resource management. Dr. Van Ballenberghe has compiled a wonderful collection of photographs, combined with a literate - yet easy to read - essay on this wonderful animal. This book is a great read, not only is the text on moose inspirational, but a reader obtains a sense of the wildness and primacy of the land.

This would be a wonderful gift for readers of all ages, educational, factual, and gripping. BUY IT!

Dr. Van Ballenberghe shares his intimate knowledge of moose behavior as one who deeply respects his subjects. Each chapter deals with a basic aspect of the moose life-cycle: surviving winter, getting prepared for the fall rutting period throughout spring and summer, the rut from the perspective of the bull and the cow, and surviving predation from wolves and bears. The chapters are not labeled as such but van Ballenberghe's engaging prose lets these themes seek up on the reader. His first hand observations of nearly 30 years of moose research reveal an understanding of individual moose probably unrivaled by today's computer-jocky statistics oriented wildlife biologists. He emphasizes instances of decision-making in individual moose which lead to good or poor survival strategies -- a subject one rarely encounters in scientific works today. This alone is quite an accomplishment but, in addition, the book is replete with full page color photos of moose in all their glory and in all stages of life. Most are full body close-ups. Many are breath-taking scenes of Denali National Park and the Alaska Mountains. The quality of the photographs is exquisite. There are so many photos that the book would be suitable for the coffee table. My only criticism is that the book is only 122 pages in length.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Not only were the pictures breathtaking, but the author's style of writing made me feel as though I was walking through the woods with a friend, a friend who knew alot about moose! a real eye opener about these gentle creatures. would make a great gift.

Fans of hunting as well as fans of wildlife biology in general and moose in particular will relish Victor Van Ballenberghe's gorgeous color photos and in-depth studies of wild moose, backed by his thirty-five years in the field. Images pair well with text which describes the habitats, habits and features of wild moose in not only North America, but the forests of Europe and Asia. In The Company Of Moose is a unique, gorgeous, and highly recommended specialty book and a welcome addition to school and community library Wildlife Studies collections.