American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee *****

American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee and Carnivore Minds by G A Bradshaw both put forward a case for preservation and protection of carnivores and predators. Blakeslee makes the practical argument that predators are good for the environment, while Bradshaw makes the ethical argument that predators are sentient. Blakeslee follows Rick McIntyre, a Yellowstone ranger, and O-Six, a Yellowstone wolf, through their intertwined adventures through wildlife politics and policy. Neither is prepared for the adventure and both suffer as a result.

Blakeslee, possibly to convince hunters and ranchers, avoids anthropomorphizing. A significant part of his argument is based trophic cascade (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophic_cascade). On my visit to Yellowstone National Park in 2017, almost every Park Ranger had a story about trophic cascade in their talk. Trophic cascade is the practical result of the central premise of ecology—everything is connected.

Here is some of the trophic cascade examples that began with the introduction of wolves to Yellowstone.

Elk no longer stayed at the streams but spent more time in the safe woods. As a result, the willows flourished, and along with the willows, more beavers. Thus, more wolves led to more beavers.

Coyotes were no longer the top predator and their numbers dropped. Fewer coyotes meant more rodents. More rodents meant more hawks and owls. Thus, more wolves led to more raptors.

In addition, as wolves are not interested in pronghorns, fewer coyotes meant more pronghorns. Thus, more wolves led to more pronghorns.

Bears, big enough to chase away wolves, fed on wolf kills. Thus, more wolves led to a healthy bear population.

Wolves even helped the elk population.

The conclusion is that with wolves the ecosystem is more diverse and healthier, not surprising since the ecosystem evolved with wolves over thousands of years.

By following the narrative of the two main characters, American Wolf makes the case to preserve and protect more engaging and persuasive as it appeals to a long tradition of storytelling instead of the simultaneously cold and melodramatic path appealing to neuroscience in Carnivore Minds.

Check out https://amazon.com/shop/influencer-20171115075 for book recommendations.