Yellowstone Wolves in the Wild Paperback – Illustrated, June 1, 2003

When the introduction of Wolves into Yellowstone National Park first occured in 1995/96 many books appeared celebrating and philosophizing the environmental and social effects of that success. Now, eight years later comes this wonderful book that not only looks at the success of the Yellowstone experiment, but also at those pioneering Wolves, the actual animals who braved that unknown scientific test to see if, after 80 years, the Wolf could again be a part of the Yellowstone ecosystem.Author James C Halfpenny has beautifully, with just the right amount of anthropomorphism, detailed the lives and experiences of the introduced wolves known to us only by numbers. But like all animal/human interactions even a number can create an emotional attachment, as was the case with the fate of Rose Creek number 10M, the 'Big Guy', whose ultimate sacrifice became the strenghth and symbol of the desire for the Yellowstone experiment to be a success despite the echoes of human hatred still being felt throughout the wilderness.Ultimately, with all popular wolf books, it is the photographs that are the real joy to most readers, and again this publication delivers. Beautiful and fascinating pictures are presented throughout, and with the well advertised phrase 'no captive wolves" ,a unique claim also, it should be noted, found in David L Mech's Arctic Wolf: Living with the pack (1988) and Jim Brandenberg's White Wolf (1988)and Brother Wolf: a Forgotten Promise (1993) , the photographs take on a special importance of being truely wild and free animals in an environment that had been stolen from them for so many decades. Also included in this text are several Appendices, outlining the original packs and pack members, detailing their histories and social status and also the 2002 wolf packs, their members, offspring and pack locations around the park.For those wolf enthusiasts who enjoyed the Yellowstone wolf experience in the books, Yellowstone Wolves (Ferguson) Return of the Wolf to Yellowstone (McNamee) Yellowstone Wolf Guide & Sourcebook (Scullery) and Wolves of Yellowstone (Philips & Smith),this is an essential addition to that collection of documents about the most successful animal re-introduction program ever undertaken. As Henry David Thoreau once wrote -" In wildness Is the preservation of the World "-

Just a good natured and well received outcome. How an ecosystem can change so drastically with the addition of just one element, amazing!

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone has improved all aspects of the environment. Wolves are noble animals and should not be persecuted as they are.

The photos and information in this book is very informative but somewhat dated. The photos are very good and the test is also well presented. However the information is a decade old. I have recently become very interested in the Yellowstone wolf population and the reintroduction process which this details very nicely however and update with additional more current photographs and lineage charts would be very welcome.

I saw this in Yellowstone last year and wished I bought it. I found this on Amazon and I’m so glad I did. It was very neat learning about the wolves and seeing their pictures. We woke up very early to see these beautiful creatures in the wild. Well worth it.

Beautiful photos and basic information.

Ordered this book after visiting Yellowstone, and my wife ordered me one as well for Father's Day. The pictures are gorgeous and the text is most informative. The author and the many people he mentions in the text have extensive first hand experience. The book certainly captures the life of the wolf in Yellowstone and is a real testament to the extraordinary efforts to reintroduce this much maligned and misunderstood creature of the wild to our first National Park.

This book has it all! Beautiful photographs, detailed accounts of encounters, every aspect of wolf biology, and the need for a peaceful co-existence with these magnificent predators. Far superior and contradictory to the viral, anti wolf perception and hatred espoused by ranchers, hunters and wolf haters of Wyoming, the author makes a great case for wolf re-introduction based on real scientific facts. A must read for wildlife advocates and serious environmentalists.

The book was a great hit with my husband who has an infinity to wolves and is interested in Yellowstone. He stated the book is brilliant, well written and informative

I bought this book for my son who has a great passion and knowledge of wolves, he thought it was a great book, bought already used and it was in very condition.

A great book for anyone who has been lucky enough to see the wolves of Yellowstone or anyone who dreams of going to see them. The book contains great photos,information about various wolf packs as well as their family trees since their re-introduction in the park in 1995/1996.

Lovely, good condition

love it!