The Wolf Almanac (Paperback)

~ Robert H. Busch (Author) "The evolutionary history of the wolf is not totally clear, but many biologists believe that the wolf developed from primitive carnivores known as miacids..." (more)
Key Phrases: public wolf howls, wolf literature, reintroduction areas, United States, North America, David Mech (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Busch, a longtime student of wolves, gathers bits and pieces of lore, lots of biological facts and factoids, and a great deal of expert testimony on the behavior of our lupine friends. You'll learn from his pages that, given their druthers, wolves would sooner eat moose, buffalo, and deer than just about anything else; that wolves can travel 125 miles in a single day; and, sadly, that in Canada, at least as of 1995, the wolf is the only animal hunted year-round with no bag limits and no license requirements. This well-researched potpourri is must-have for fans of Canis lupus. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Like many a naturalist-author before him, Busch seeks to separate the wolf of reality from that of myth and give us a glimpse of the authentic animal. He does admirably well. From the beginning chapters on wolf biology, ecology, and ethology, he proceeds to take up the relationship of wolf and man in all its many aspects; that is, the wolf's place in our culture, as a predator, as our prey, and lately as our ward. Busch is largely concerned with the wolf's place in the modern world. He takes pains to dispel the notion that the wolf is the natural enemy of humans and replace it with acceptance of the wolf as a fellow creature with its own right to exist. The chapters on wolves in zoos, wolves as pets, and conservation of the wolf directly address some very important questions as to what we can do (also, what we shouldn't do) to continue sharing the world with wolves. Dennis Winters --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 2nd edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558215573
• ISBN-13: 978-1558215573
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #527,352 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding overview of the wolf itself, & its conservation, September 3, 2002

By	Erin K. Darling "naive cynic" (olympia, wa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Robert Busch is considered to be among the top wolf experts, and he's created a fabulous book with _The Wolf Almanac_. He gives concise, accurate information about the wolf's anatomy & physiology, behaviors, social structure, history, evolution, and current range, as well as its role in human culture. He covers predators' roles in nature, the trapping/hunting industry, pet wolves & wolf-dog hybrids, and information about current wolf conservation efforts. Some of the hard stats he gives are out of date, since they are from 1998, and things have changed quite a bit since then, but overall, this is a great, informative book.

Busch gives many anecdotes from wolf researchers and conservationists, as well as quotes and stories from the ranching and trapping points of view. There are quite a few gorgeous full-color photos in the center portion, and many black and white photos run throughout. This is a fantastic educational tool for anyone interested in learning more about wolves and their behaviors. Nearly every facet of the wolf is covered in this book. I am a tour guide at Wolf Haven (South of Olympia, Washington,) and this book is required reading before becoming certified to give the tours - it's that good.

There are a lot of really good books out there about wolves, and this one is simply outstanding.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!!!, September 7, 2000

By	"wolfgal64" (USA) - See all my reviews

This is a great book!! I first checked it out of the library for a report, and realized that I just had to have my own copy. It is filled with excellent information and beautiful photos. It is quite possibly, one of my most treasured books.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST of the BEST!!, July 17, 2003

A Kid's Review

This book is simply the best book you could get for learning all about wolves. Great guide book about everything about wolves. Great pictures and research by Robert H Bucsh. I would also reccomend reading about their behaviour as well, this book only teaches the basics, but you should also get The Wolf: The Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species by L David Mech, or any other book by L David Mech; he is the best wolf biologist known!