Wildlife of Pennsylvania and the Northeast (Paperback)

by Charles Fergus (Author), Amelia Hansen (Illustrator) "The vertebrates include fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, and of these, the mammals are the most highly evolved..." (more)
Key Phrases: revegetated strip mines, reverting fields, marsh turtles, North America, United States, Central America (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
90 line drawings 6 x 9 In Wildlife of Pennsylvania, Chuck Fergus has managed an impressive feat-to deftly mix solid, scientific information on the Northeast's diverse animal life, from bears to bullfrogs, with his own observations and anecdotes to create that rarest of works, a reference book that is a delight to read." -Scott Weidensaul author of Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds Natural history narratives for more than 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians found in Pennsylvania and throughout the northeastern United States-written in an engaging, straightforward style. An invaluable addition to any nature-lover's library. Each narrative offers a species description as well as up-to-date information on habitat, breeding behavior, feeding habits, biology, migration, and current population status, as well as the author's personal observations of the animal's life in the wild. Includes game and nongame mammals, birds of prey, songbirds, waterfowl, snakes, turtles, frogs, toads, and more. Charles Fergus is a former columnist for Pennsylvania Game News and author of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Wildlife Notes. His books include A Rough-Shooting Dog, The Wingless Crow, Swamp Screamer, and Summer at Little Lava, named by Library Journal one of the Best Sci-Tech Books of 1998. He lives in central Pennsylvania.

About the Author
Charles Fergus

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books; illustrated edition edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811728994
• ISBN-13: 978-0811728997
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #380,198 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on the Topic . . ., October 23, 2000

By	Robert Proctor (Pineknot Heaven, Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

Fergus has done a remarkable job of nature writing--the prose is crisp and clear, and always informative. The book can be used as either a guide or just a good read; Fergus tells us how to see things we've never seen, and shows us how to look at what we already know with new eyes. Buy the book, you won't be disappointed. Bravo!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great information, but . . . , February 1, 2005

By	minerva (Conway, PA United States) - See all my reviews

The information on animal habitat, food sources, and behavior is fascinating and unforgettable. Charles Fergus has forgotten more about area animal life than most people will ever know. This is one book that never leaves my nightstand, as it is organized well and is my "go-to book" for esoteric questions about mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in Pennsylvania.

However, it is not a field guide. The black and white illustrations are a disappointment; very crudely drawn, and not every species has an illustration. Thus, it is difficult to compare closely-related species. For instance, Mr. Fergus describes 13 varieties of hawks, eagles, falcons,kestrels and merlins, yet there are only a meager 6 illustrations for the section. Perhaps in the next edition, Mr. Fergus will collaborate with a better illustrator and will include more, realistic, and (GASP) COLOR drawings or photos of these animals for his readers.

Despite the lack of illustrations, this book is a great reference material. Use it in conjunction with other field guides and you won't be disappointed in its scope.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reference for naturalists, July 6, 2002

By	Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I wish a book like this had been available when I was growing up in Pennsylvania, when I was a Girl Scout and camp counselor, and when I started volunteering at nature centers. This supplement to traditional field guides is divided into sections by animal type (mammals, birds, etc.) and provides such details as eating habits, favored habitats, longevity, home regions, and population distribution. Fergus assembles factual information into a leisurely readable format and adds his own observations from time to time. Here you'll find out why that dead shrew is lying on the trail in front of you, or how much food a red-tail hawk eats in a day. Amelia Hansen's exquisite drawings depict many of the animals listed and are accurate enough and beautiful enough to be framed and hung on a wall. The only omission is a visual sample of each animal's tracks, but other books can help you in that area. I can't wait for the companion book on *trees* to be issued!