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Hidden Life of Wolves, The Hardcover – Illustrated, February 5, 2013
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Short chapters introduce the wolves as individuals, describe the Dutchers' years of coming to know them, and address the complex conservation issues surrounding the near-extinction and now replenishment of the species in the wild. Sidebars explore myths about wolves, including Native American spirit stories, European fairy tales, and modern ranching hearsay.
- Print length216 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherNational Geographic
- Publication dateFebruary 5, 2013
- Dimensions10.4 x 1 x 7.3 inches
- ISBN-109781426210129
- ISBN-13978-1426210129
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“An inspired account. The return of the gray wolf is a proud moment in the history of our American lands.” —Bruce Babbitt, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior
"The Dutchers are known for their world-class photography, and this volume does not disappoint…the mystery and awe that wolves have always evoked in humans is conveyed in crisp, color images. The photos are at once beautiful, startling and mesmerizing." —Bill Cannon, former editor-in-chief of Motor Age Magazine
"The photography is stunningly beautiful and the insights that Jim and Jamie Dutcher share with us opens a world of understanding into wolf behavior." —Apogee Photo Magazine
"A richly layered work that speaks to the intricate and controversial relationship between wolves and humans." --The Oregonian
"Remarkable photographs...an in-depth and up-close look at the intimate behaviors and social bonds of [Wolves]." --American Profile
"Loaded with wonderful photographs...should go a long way to help protect these most amazing beings." --Psychology Today
“A richly layered work that speaks to the intricate and controversial relationship between wolves and humans.” --Oregon Live
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Tucked away at the base of these mountains lies a bright ripar- ian meadow. Tiny braided streams course though the grass, nourishing stands of willow and aspen before flowing into a lively mountain brook. Thick stands of spruce and lodgepole pine guard the perimeter, break- ing just enough to reveal the Sawtooths in stunning backdrop. We had searched for the better part of a year for the perfect spot to create our wolf camp, facing a maddening list of criteria. It had to be far enough into the wilderness to avoid attracting attention or bothering the local resi- dents, but it had to be accessible by four-wheel drive in the summer and snowmobile in the winter. It also had to be an area that the U.S. Forest Service would allow us to use. Above all, it had to be suitable wolf habitat with fresh water, a mix of cover and open space, and good places for denning. The moment we set foot in this meadow, we knew we’d found the spot. From the hushed beauty of a spruce forest blanketed in new snow, to the pastel spray of spring wildflowers, to the bold reds and golds of autumn, it was all that we as filmmakers could have hoped for.
More important, the land offered everything a pack of wolves would need. There were dense patches of forest and a maze of willows where they could seclude themselves and feel safe. There was a pond of spring water to drink from and to splash in. Fallen trees offered a choice of denning sites, and a grassy meadow provided a sunny nursery for raising pups. The wolves genuinely seemed to love being there.
Wolf camp was an ever-evolving project. After securing permits from the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, we had to get permission from three local ranchers to cross their land. Wolf reintroduction was four years in the future, but it was already a contentious issue. During the autumn of 1990, we staked out 25 acres, creating the world’s largest wolf enclosure. Just outside the enclosure, we set up two sleeping tents and a round Mongolian-style yurt, which became a cook tent, a work- space, and the center of camp life.
Maintaining the camp and caring for the wolf pack was a seven-day-a-week job. The long Idaho winters were especially laborious. When three feet of snow piled up in a single day, we had to keep our tent roofs swept free, lest they collapse under the weight. We had to haul and chop a steady supply of firewood, especially for nights when temperatures dropped to 40° below zero. And we always made sure we had a clear path to the outhouse. Critically, we had to maintain contact with the local sheriff’s department. If a deer, elk, or antelope turned up dead on the highway, we had permission to collect it for wolf food.
A few seasons into the project, we made a simple alteration that proved revelatory. We built a platform eight feet off the ground inside the wolves’ territory, put the yurt on top, our sleeping tent on the ground beside it, and encircled it with chain-link fencing. Suddenly we were no longer entering and exiting the wolves’ space every day; we became a constant fixture within it. More than ever, the wolves just ignored us. By this time, the pack was a mature family of six males and two females, and they began to reveal their lives in rich detail. When we remember the Sawtooth Pack, we remember them most fondly from this time.
Product details
- ASIN : 1426210124
- Publisher : National Geographic; Illustrated edition (February 5, 2013)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 216 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781426210129
- ISBN-13 : 978-1426210129
- Item Weight : 2.2 pounds
- Dimensions : 10.4 x 1 x 7.3 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #41,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #12 in Biology of Dogs & Wolfs
- #29 in Biology of Mammals
- #48 in Plant & Animal Photography
- Customer Reviews:
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2020
From Renee Askins to Farley Mowat, many have captured the true nature of one of, if not the most maligned creatures of earth. But unlike the more scientific approach of renowned biologist, L. David Mech, Dutcher transports the reader through prose and picture into the veiled world of the wolf with an approach that illustrates the compassion and understanding the gray wolf so desperately needs to survive the malevolent burden of Man’s misunderstanding and oppression.
The Hidden Life of Wolves is not only a must for the wolf enthusiast’s library, but a work of art to be overtly displayed with our treasured keepsakes.
Russell M. Cera, author of Cry Wolf, Cry.
Top reviews from other countries
I liked the book because (1) the authors have included gorgeously beautiful pictures of the wolves under their observation taken from a close range in an almost natural environment, (2) the authors have provided a research oriented and a scientific rebuttal to anti-wolf lobby's arguments on hunting the wolves down, (3) the authors have provided ways to protect livestock against wolves predation, although they did not mention the universally acclaimed effectiveness of livestock guardian dogs, and (4) The authors have described how protection of wolves as apex or top predators ensures healthy ecology.
As a lover of wolves and having written an article on `How to protect wolves and livestock alike', which has been called a balanced article, all of the above makes sense to me.
There is a minor, almost negligible, weakness as well in that the authors have built their observation of wolves in the light of now discarded dominant and submissive wolf theory. Some of the observations reported in this book emanate from the environment in which the wolf pack was kept. It is possible that the alpha, middle status and omega wolves in the pack emerged due to resource limitation issues. However, even here, a majority of observations reported are true to a totally wild pack now believed to be consisting of a breeding pair and their off springs of various age groups.
The book is easy to read, because of the pictures, illustrations, and the font size. The only negative here, albeit a minor one again, is its landscape format, which is difficult to open up in crowded places like commuter trains and buses.
All in all, it was a great read and I am sure I will be reading it over and over again.
I highly recommend it for reading and watching some awesome pictures.















