The Wisdom of Wolves: Lessons from the Sawtooth Pack

The Dutchers (The Hidden Life of Wolves) are sentimental but not saccharine as they fondly recount their time with the Sawtooth Pack, a grouping of wolves that Jim constructed in the Idaho wilderness nearly three decades ago from litters of pups in order to film their social behaviors. The authors challenge the cultural perception of wolves as ruthless with more positive stories of wolf behavior, arguing that “many of the qualities that make a wolf successful at being a wolf also represent the best in human nature” and organizing their observations into categories of virtuous behaviors such as “Lead with Kindness,” “Never Stop Playing,” and “Find Compassion.” The Dutchers revel in the wolves’ individual personalities, sharing stories as if they were doting grandparents (“it was absolutely endearing to watch the three pups try to howl”). Each author’s prose is subtly distinctive; Jim brings in a smattering of history and politics, while Jamie tends more toward gentle anthropomorphizing. This optimistic expression of faith in the everyday wisdom of wolf and humankind alike shows the wolves as a reflection of the best in humans. B&w photos. (Mar.)