Reptiles of the Northwest (Paperback)

~ Alan st John (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...an excellent book for people interested in the outdoors, even if they're not great fans of snakes. --Walla Walla Union Bulletin

It's hard to imagine a better book for the amateur herpetologist. --Burnaby Now

This book is the definitive layman's guide to this subject. --Salem Statesmen-Journal

Product Description

Interpretive naturalist, writer, educator and reptile specialist Alan St. John has crafted a richly photographed guide to the reptiles, snakes and turtles found in the Pacific Northwest. Each of the book's 44 accounts features photographs of the animal, as well as range maps and notes on identification, variation, distribution, habitat, behavior and similar species. The guide also has a strongly personal and accessible quality through St. John's field notes of his own encounters with each of the featured species.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Lone Pine Publishing (May 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551053438
• ISBN-13: 978-1551053431
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #255,168 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good IDs, beautiful photographs, entertaining field notes, March 5, 2003

By	Jonathan Crowe (Shawville, QC, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a marvellously well-done little book whose only (minor) fault is that it skimps a bit on information about the animals themselves; facts about their diet, reproduction and behaviour are condensed into a paragraph each. Instead, we have a field guide worthy of the name that tells you where and how to find reptiles in northwestern North America and how to identify them, and that provides very good subspecies data (a rare thing nowadays), excellent range maps, and beautiful photography. Most enjoyable are the field notes at the end of each species description, in which the author tells a story about finding the animal in question in the wild (often so that it could be photographed for this book). This feature alone makes this book one of the most unique field guides I have encountered in years, and reminds us that a field guide is really about encountering and interacting with animals in the field -- and this point is ably illustrated by the often-funny photos of snakes dangling off someone's ear or lizards biting someone's hand. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Field Guide to Unique Animals, September 25, 2002

By	"ecobeetle" (Burnaby) - See all my reviews

Reptiles are one of the most successful classes of animal that inhabit the earth. They occur in almost every climate and it should be no surprise that the Pacific Northwest has its share of fascinating reptiles. There are 42 species of reptile found from British Columbia to Northern California and Reptiles of the Northwest by Alan St. John is the guide to them. Comprehensive, with brilliant photographs, it is simply a must-own for not only budding herpetologists but naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Reptiles of the Northwest by Alan St. John has an easy to access and understand quick reference guide and detailed introduction to reptiles and herpetology. Each species of Northwest reptile is given a complete introduction with detailed description and information on its distribution, habitat and behaviour. What sets Reptiles of the Northwest by Alan St. John apart from other field guides are the 6 beautiful and informative color photos of each species and the informative and whimsical field notes describing each reptile. These are accounts of encounters Alan St. John has had with these reptiles and they give the reader experiences that you don't find in the average field guide. They are filled with the author's wonder and joy in these creatures, written with humour and warmth in a casual biographical style.
This is a special field guide. Its soft cover allows for ease of slipping into any backpack enabling one to take advantage of the great inclusion of the Northwest Reptile Life list note pages. Reptiles of the Northwest by Alan St. John is definitive and comprehensive It is a unique field guide to unique animals.