The Carnivore Way: Coexisting with and Conserving North America’s Predators

Using personal anecdotes of encounters with North American predators, supplemented by the results of a number of studies, Eisenberg (The Wolf’s Tooth) makes a case for the place of carnivores in the wild. She points out their usefulness in thinning herds of deer and elk that destroy woods and gardens, as well as removing the weak and sick, thus improving the health of the remaining animals. Chapters on the habits of individual species—grizzlies, cougars, wolves, lynxes, wolverines, and jaguars—introduce readers to their lives, and she shows how projects at Yellowstone and Denali National Parks demonstrate the feasibility of safely managing the wolf and grizzly populations. Given the potential threat to humans, some will not appreciate Eisenberg’s pro-predator argument. Similarly, her suggestion that one should “speak to bears politely” might not work as well as her admonition to carry pepper spray. Nevertheless, her moral is that people need to “make better choices about how they interact with wildlife.” While her section on ranchers seeking ways to better manage livestock could use some expansion, Eisenberg presents interesting information and her goals are laudable, but it remains an uphill battle to change the opinions of those unhappy about sharing their space with predators. [em](May) [/em]