Dangerous Wildlife in the Southeast: A Guide to Safe Encounters At Home and in the Wild [Paperback]

F. Lynne Bachleda (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dangerous Wildlife - Menasha Ridge | Publication Date: November 1, 2001

What you don't know can hurt you! Do you feel safe in the woods? At the beach? In your backyard? In your home? In clear and precise language, this meticulously researched reference describes which creatures and plants can cause you harm - and when, why, and how to avoid them - in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Most valuable of all, you'll understand what medical risks they present and how best to respond to a hostile encounter. Bees, bears, sharks, snakes, spiders, mosquitoes, lizards, lice, ticks and more - if they're where you live, they're in this book. A finely illustrated field guide, a natural history narrative, and an outdoor emergency medical manual all rolled into one book.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"All of us, at one time or another, have been inhibited by fear of the natural world," says the practical, seemingly fearless and compassionate Bachleda (Blue Mountain). Luckily, "fear derives primarily from a lack of information," and once we learn the raisons d'ˆtre of scary things, our fear usually dwindles. Introducing the new Dangerous Wildlife series, this compendious guide does much to dispel the feelings of powerlessness and panic often provoked by sensationalized media coverage of, say, the recent spate of shark attacks along the eastern seaboard. Wasps, poisonous frogs, fire ants, tree-hole mosquitoes, scabies, tiger sharks, moth caterpillars, pit vipers and hundreds of others make cameos here and receive the appropriate respect and understanding. Readers learn where and when (to the time of day) they might encounter these creatures; the likelihood of a meeting; their physical and "personality" traits; their diet, habitat, reproductive practices, range and population size; whether or not it's necessary to visit the doctor when bitten or stung. It's true that familiarity can bring comfort, and Bachleda's calm approach to what many dread will inspire much confidence. A bibliography, a list of U.S. poison control centers and hundreds of color photographs round out this resource.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Bachleda's (Blue Mountain: A Spiritual Anthology Celebrating the Earth) new work is a rare find: a science reference that is comprehensive and loaded with relevant, accurate, and well-organized scientific data and yet so fascinating that you can't put it down. This volume on the dangerous reptiles and amphibians, insects and arachnids, mammals, plants, and seashore creatures of the Southeast is the first of a planned nine-volume set, to be released through spring 2003, that will cover all regions of the United States. Each section includes general natural history information on the particular type of wildlife; an in-depth explanation of how the animal or plant is dangerous; tips on identification, first aid, and avoidance; and a description of each of the dangerous species of that type of wildlife found in the region. The writing is suffused with humor, anecdotes abound, and the illustrations and photos are excellent. Essential for all academic and public libraries in the Southeast and highly recommended for large natural history collections throughout the United States. Lynn C. Badger, Univ. of Florida Lib., Gainesville
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press; 1st edition (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897323351
• ISBN-13: 978-0897323352
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,252,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Potential life-saving information, August 1, 2002

By 

M.Stepp, RN/MICN (Western North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dangerous Wildlife in the Southeast: A Guide to Safe Encounters At Home and in the Wild (Paperback)

Dangerous Wildlife in the Southeast is the most comprehensive reference on the subject - covering potential dangers ranging from the mountains to the sea. Statistics given are fairly current. Pictures are sharp and clear with wildlife in natural habitat - other guides currently available appear to have taken pictures of wildlife from zoos and animals in cages,with pictures being dark and sometimes unclear - making identification of potential threats difficult.

Information is presented in an educational and easy to read format. A particular topic can be quickly located in this book or can be read easily from start-to-finish. Emergency care for envenomations is delivered in a concise, easy-to-follow format with instruction on when to seek advanced emergency care and also provides information to contact current additional resources for further assistance or education. Other texts on this subject contain outdated or inaccurate reference links.

As an Emergency Dept. RN, EMT-Instructor and avid fisherman, this book is an extremely helpful reference. Should be a required on-hand text in any emergency department, camp, emergency services organization or for anyone living in the region. A truly well-written text with potentially life saving information.