The Wolves of Yellowstone [Hardcover]

Michael K. Phillips (Author), Douglas W. Smith (Author), Barry O'Neill (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1996

In 1995, history was made as 14 gray wolves were transported from the Canadian wilderness and released in Yellowstone National Park. Their release marked the beginning of a landmark project to restore wolves to an area from where they had been absent for almost 100 years.

The Wolves of Yellowstone provides the inside story of the trials and tribulations encountered during the first year and a half of restoring wolves to Yellowstone. Written by the project leaders of the restoration effort, it is the only book to contain the biologists' personal accounts, along with never-before-seen photographs, field notes, historical documents, and reminiscences from key figures such as Bruce Babbit and Dave Mech.

The Wolves of Yellowstone allows readers to become completely familiar with this historic undertaking. Mike Phillips and Doug Smith detail the capture, translocation, acclimation, release, and tracking after release of the Yellowstone wolves. Both the 1995 and 1996 wolf releases are discussed.

Given the continuing media coverage of this project and the large and loyal following of wolf fans worldwide, The Wolves of Yellowstone promises to be a much-sought-after reference.

Also recommended: Yellowstone, A Society of Wolves, The Way of the Wolf, The Arctic Wolf.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

To wildlife biologists of the National Park Service, 1995 was the "Year of the Wolf," at least in Yellowstone Park. The release of 14 gray wolves, translocated from the Canadian wilderness, marked the culmination of a quarter century of effort to devise a strategy for restoration. Project leaders Phillips and Smith give an engrossing, detailed account of the events?capture, translocation, acclimation, release?and the subsequent fate of the animals in their new home. Their narrative is interrupted at various points by 16 brief essays by others involved in the release, including Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. Phillips relates the poignant story of wolf #10, shot from the highway, his mate, #9, and their eight pups. Another wolf, #3, had to be destroyed because of predation. Wolf restoration is one of the most important conservation initiatives in our history, according to the authors; they plead for continued congressional and public support. Stunning photographs make their own eloquent plea for the wolves. (Dec.) FYI: Proceeds from the sale of this book will be contributed to support wolf restoration in Yellowstone.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

By the mid-1930s silence had replaced the howl of the wolf in the Yellowstone ecosystem?the result of overly zealous government predator control programs. In this eloquent and concisely written book, Phillips and Smith, project leaders for Yellowstone wolf recovery, provide an inside account of the complete restoration project, including public relations, capture, relocation, acclimation, both the 1995 and 1996 releases, and tracking. Fifteen additional persons involved with the project, including former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, contribute short, often moving essays describing their thoughts and feelings about the return of the wolf to the park. Most of the over 70 color photos are of the wolves themselves. These mesmerizing pictures make the book. Recommended for any public or academic library with a strong environmental collection; also highly recommended for libraries in the Rocky Mountain region.?Lynn C. Badger, Univ. of Florida Lib., Gainesville
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press; 1st edition (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896583309
• ISBN-13: 978-0896583306
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,708,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Experience the re-location with the wolves!, July 4, 1998

By 

Susan Goforth ([e-mail]) (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wolves of Yellowstone (Hardcover)

This book brings you right into the experience of bringing the wolves back to Yellowstone where they belong! Find out the behind the scenes activity that brought the sight and sound of the wolf back after an absence of over 60 years. You'll never be the same after reading this. Excellent!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent book, great text and beautiful pictures!!!, April 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wolves of Yellowstone (Hardcover)

an excellent book describing the ordeal of reintroducing the wolves to Yellowstone. I recommend it to everyone with even a slight interest in this topic

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, August 18, 2000

By 

anonnymous (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wolves of Yellowstone (Paperback)

Beautiful pictures, touching and moving story. About the restoration of the wolves.