A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West

AMERICAN WOLF is a fascinating study of the wolves introduced into Yellowstone.

What was so interesting to me was the recounting of their social structure. How much they were like extended families, with members going in and out of favor. There are sad moments, of course. We are talking about nature. But so many more great moments, like when the author connects the dots and shows how the introduction of wolves was actually good for bears and beavers and certainly flora.

I had a small problem with the people who were named. Probably because so many of them I came to hate. But mostly because my focus was on the wolves and wildlife.

I'm very thankful to the author. Greatly appreciated this book. And even more thankful to the men who made a study of Yellowstone and the wolves their life's work.

If a wolf could talk… It’s a compelling fantasy here made almost reality as award-winning author Nate Blakeslee follows the activities of a female wolf named O-Six, resident of Yellowstone. Tracing her trail opens the door to exploration of critical questions: Should wolves and other species be allowed their freedom to roam and reproduce, or be restrained and threatened by seasonal hunting? And who controls their fate, and the fate of the park and other federal lands?

It will come as a surprise to those outside the region that the wolf packs of Yellowstone are divided into known and specifically named packs. O-Six (referring to the year of her birth) was born into the Agate Creek pack, later joined the Lamars, and was known to be the great-granddaughter of a female from Canada, part of a group of wolves that was reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. When first sighted, O-Six was three (considered middle-aged) and looking for a mate. She was notable for her facial markings and became a popular focus for wolf-watching tourists. She had many fans among the locals in the park area and eventually earned her own Facebook page.

Blakeslee records the comings and goings of O-Six, a rare alpha female who commanded her own hunting territory. In interviews with local fans of the animal, it sometimes seems as though she was a favored pet. When O-Six was killed in a newly authorized legal hunt in Wyoming in 2012, many humans mourned; her death put a national “name and face” on the wolf-hunting debate.

The stresses on the life of O-Six and other wolves are the subject of perennial debate in the three-state area --- Wyoming, Montana and Idaho --- where they make their home. The wolves attack cattle, so ranchers resent their freedom to roam. But they also attack deer, and deer are seen by locals to be a nuisance. Wolves attack elk and other game that hunters generally target, so some hunters would prefer a control on wolfpack size via wolf hunting seasons, the longer the better. Having been reintroduced, wolves’ presence in the park is evidence of an admirable initiative on the part of the region’s planners. But still, many see the predatory animals as a danger to that carefully monitored ecosystem, while others advocate the possibility of declaring them an endangered species with the full protection that implies. Both sides have had their wishes fulfilled for periods of time, but no permanent solution is in sight.

Add to the puzzle the fact that most of these creatures and their human observers live on federal lands, which means, as Blakeslee sagely points out, that people who don’t live in the affected area may still have input into the disposition of the land and its uses through Congressional actions.

Blakeslee’s fairness in picking apart these complicated skeins is evident from the fact that he interviewed people on both sides --- forest rangers, ranchers, wolf-watchers, hunters, even the man who took down O-Six and kept her pelt in his remote cabin. AMERICAN WOLF raises many parlous issues, but most remarkably, it uses the story of an interesting character, O-Six --- independent huntress, dutiful mother, fearless fighter and, ultimately, martyr --- to bring those issues home.

Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott

“If Obamacare was going to live past its infancy, some wolves had to start dying in Montana, in large numbers, and soon…” And they did.
This quote from Blakeslee’s book illustrates the degree to which the fate of wolves in the West has been influenced by politics, greed, and lust for power. Reintroduced in the mid-1990’s, the wolf was removed from the endangered species list in 2012. One of the first wolves to be shot was the beloved O-Six, the alpha female of the Lamar Valley pack, the most watched and photographed wolf in all of Yellowstone.
American Wolf is the story of this unusual wolf, her rise to prominence, and her death in 2012 at the hands of a trophy hunter. Named for the year in which she was born, O-Six led a pack that settled in the Lamar Valley. Easily recognizable because of her unusual size and the owl-like mask around her eyes, she was a favorite of Yellowstone visitors and staff alike. Her death was a tragedy.
Read this book and fall in love, all over again, with wolves, with O-Six, her puppies, the brothers who were part of her pack, the wolf-watchers who followed her, rejoiced in her victories, and grieved when she died.

No other wild animal has as much attention focused on it, as does the wolf. There are a myriad of stories, fables, commentaries, poetry, and studies that portray the wolf in many lights, some mysterious and deeply moving, some heart-rending and tender, and some in unmitigated hatred. Nate Blakeslee, in his exhaustive study of the “American Wolf,” has used extensive observation of the wolf packs in the Yellowstone area of Wyoming to form the basis of his descriptions of their lives and times.

Two National Park Service employees, Rick McIntyre and Laurie Lyman, have spent years watching the Yellowstone wolves and cataloging their lives. The pair’s meticulous notes, photographs, and learned observations of their behavior were heavily relied on by the author as the foundation for his book, augmented with interviews with wildlife officials, residents, ranchers, politicians, and legal authorities. Blakeslee has compiled a comprehensive visit into the environment of wolves including details about their life, disputes about their place in society, zealous advocacy and intense displeasure of their being, and their welcome appearance in the crosshairs of avid hunters.

The legal battles impacting the role of wolves in the environment are stories in themselves. Lawsuits, hearings, rulings, and diverse activism may comprise the yardstick that measures their future. For every action that attempts to limit the wolf population there are counter moves to ensure that no harm comes to them. Each side is fervently convinced their reasoning is sound, and politics is the game that creates the slippery slope on which they survive.

This book is extremely well written with the author using a balanced voice in presenting all sides of the debate, although his compassion for the animal is unapologetically obvious. At the same time, he presents the story of the wolf in its own beautiful and dangerous environment, complete with its instinctive family orientation. His scenic backgrounds fill the reader’s mind with the allure of the Western Rockies and his descriptions of the wolves’ apprehension and the sheer delight while freely roaming their territory are heartening and a joy to read.

As a lifelong lover of the natural world, a frustrated naturalist with old legs, I heartily recommend this book as a near work of art, as close as one can get to truly enjoying our great outdoors and its creatures without actually going there.

Schuyler T Wallace
Author of TIN LIZARD TALES

American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee is the most recent read in my effort to get through all the books I irresponsibly got via NetGalley last year and never read. Essentially, it’s the story of the wolf in America, focusing on “recent” events since the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. The book follows the lives of the wolves, as chronicled by a handful of avid (or obsessed?) wolf-watchers in the park over many years, as well as the political, cultural, and societal factors that impact wolves’ survival in the American West.

The most gripping parts of the book are Blakeslee’s reporting on the life of O-Six, a female wolf born in 2006 in the park. He succeeds in telling a gripping story of life and survival for wolves as they face both natural and man-made threats. It reads almost like a novel, and definitely paints a vivid picture of wolf society. I learned so much about wolves, the evolution of individual wolf packs, and the social interactions of what are clearly very intelligent and emotional animals.

Woven into the story is the political, societal, and legal context in which the wolf reintroduction and population management unfolded. It was interesting to read about the events through the 2000s and to understand how events I lived through (sequestration and the 2011 threat of a government shutdown, followed by an actual shutdown in 2013) impacted things across the country. It’s disturbing and yet unsurprising, especially having lived my entire adult life in the DC area, to read of the political nonsense–riders circumventing legal protections for wolves tacked on last minute to a must-pass spending bill in 2011, for example.

I couldn’t help but root for the wolves as I read the book, while I understand the legitimate concerns of residents of areas surrounding Yellowstone as they coped with rising wolf populations. I’m glad I read the book, and sorry it took me so long to actually pick it up to read. I give the book 4 stars, only subtracting one because I feel it starts out a little slowly and took some effort to get into. Persevere, though! It’s worth it!

4 stars!

Almost from the time, the park was created, in 1872, early superintendents had pursued a rigorous predator-control program, aimed chiefly at protecting the big game animals- elk, deer, moose, and bighorn sheep- that were considered Yellowstone's prime attractions.

"And yet wolf-watching was a social experience, too. It was about enjoying the camaraderie of your fellow watchers, with their shared thermoses or football or whatever they could think to pass the time."

"Experiencing Yellowstone through a spotting scope was an entirely different experience than seeing the park from a car or even from a hiking trail."

"When Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, there were perhaps as many as two million wolves on the continent  Most of the early colonial governments, eager to make their settlements safe for livestock, paid bounties for wolf hides; they forced some Native tribes to pay regular tribute in dead wolves."

Dens were used for generations.

In the Midwest where the government owns most of the land, they sell access to the resources such as grazing rights, timber, precious metals, and oil and gas without selling the land itself.  Two-Thirds of Idaho is owned by the federal government, which means the people have little to no power to the decisions to what happens in their communities.  I didn't know any of this.   So when the government owns the land they control what happens.  So when they want to reintroduce wolves, the government does.  The government also controls when you can hunt how many you can kill, and it doesn't matter if they are killing off your livestock.

Research in Yellowstone had strongly suggested, meanwhile that unexploited wolf populations, left to their own devices, would eventually level off on their own, without culling of any kind.

Wolves have glands in their feet that release their unique scent when they walk. All throughout this book are neat little facts about wolves.  But most of the book is about the group of Wolf Watchers and O-six and her pups.  O-Six was a majestic animal that brought lots of onlookers and weekend naturalist.

In certain places, American Wolf is the prose version of a Wild Kingdom episode (I’m dating myself now) or Blue Planet.

“Suddenly O-Six came exploding out of the woods with a gang of wolves in pursuit. She was alone, separated from her pack, racing downhill through a small meadows. Rick instinctively began mapping her escape route, but to his horror he saw immediately that she had none. Fleeing heedlessly, she had allowed herself to be driven to the edge of out outcrop bordered by a sheer precipice. Behind her were the charging Mollies … “

This is from a heart-pounding chapter called “Rampage of the Mollies” and by this point of Nate Blakeslee’s riveting book about the wolves of the American West, we are fully plugged into the life story of O-Six, an alpha female with loads of personality.

“Rick” in the excerpt above is Rick McIntyre, wolf watcher extraordinaire, and we get to know Rick and whole group of watchers whose tireless work forms the basis for much of Blakeslee’s narrative. Rick’s extensive notes are a key source and so are notes, some 2,500 pages worth, from fellow watcher Laurie Lyman. 

"American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in The West," comes complete with extensive Source Notes, an Index, and lengthy acknowledgements for all those who contributed to the work. American Wolf is a work of journalism. Blakeslee is an award-winning writer who cares about the facts.

Blakeslee tracks the thriving packs in and around Yellowstone National Park. Pack life, pack survival, pack mentality, and how pack leaders are chosen—it’s all here. Blakeslee also follows the complicated and the shifting politics and attitudes about the growing population of wolves.

The wolf, in the American West, is not a middle-ground issue. Hunters and ranchers abhor the thought of a reduced elk population or lost livestock due to the wolf’s return. On the other side, all those who support the essence and spirit of the Endangered Species Act with the goal of restoring habitat—all of it—to its natural state. Early superintendents of Yellowstone, Blakeslee points out, finished the work of wolf trappers in the 19th century. To protect the park’s “prime attractions” of elk, antelope, moose, and bighorn sheep, park rangers destroyed wolf pups and tracked and killed adult wolves, too.

Writes Blakeslee: “They didn’t realize that wolves and elk and coexisted in Yellowstone for thousands of years, that the two species had in fact evolved in tandem with each other—which explained why the elk could run as fast as the wolf but no faster. Wolves were the driving force behind the evolution of a wide variety of prey species in North America after the last ice age, literally molding the natural world around them. The massive size of the moose, the nimbleness of the white-tailed deer, the uncanny balance of the bighorn sheep—the architect of these and countless other marvels was the wolf.”

Reintroduction means a fight—and Blakeslee brings us up close and personal with both sides of the impassioned debate, from the farms and the wilderness to the courthouse. Blakeslee’s star is O-Six, who gave birth to three litters and taught brothers to hunt. O-Six is the chief protagonist. She’s got the savvy personality and leadership chops. But many other wolves play key roles with their individual quirks and personalities. Blakeslee, however, plays fair—he shows as much empathy for the wolves and as their fans as he does for the hunter who ended O-Six’s life; the conversation with O-Six’s killer is moving, thoughtful, and well-rounded.  

In the big sweep of a changing ecosystem, the wolf’s reintroduction shows how nature had things pretty well balanced all on its own. (Yeah, go figure.) In fact, the reintroduction led to a chain reaction called a “trophic cascade,” a series of positive adjustments that took place simply by the fact that wolves once again roamed the woods, mountains, and valleys. Smaller elk herds meant willows weren’t being decimated. In turn, beavers thrived with more food. Riverbanks endured less erosion due to the increased vegetation. More wolves meant fewer coyotes. Fewer coyotes meant a burgeoning rodent population, which in turn was good news for the owls, hawks, weasels and foxes. On and on. The list of changes from the re-introduction of this one mammal would be a long one. 

As with many issues in the American West, the wolf is a hot-button dividing point—science on one side and vested interests on the other. And "American Wolf" is a terrific, and meaningful, window into a fight that continues to play out (get ready, Colorado). American Wolf  begs the age-old question, can’t we all just get along?

American Wolf is a stunning account, not just about wolves, but also about the people who watch and advocate for them, people who hunt them, and those making decisions about them. In his quest to conquer, man has become relentless in pursuing enemies to extinction, including animals. Blakeslee has covered the physical, emotional, environmental, and political aspects of this conquest in his story of “0-6”. The details of this beautiful animal’s life and death and all the lives she touched were portrayed in this book. I have read several reviews about what he did not include (pictures) and his lack of information about how “hunting impacts the natural integrity of wolf society, and that of Yellowstone Park itself.” That seems to be what this book is about-the results of the trophy shooting of an alpha female. If you want pictures of this lovely wolf, you can find some great ones on the internet.

I had family members who hunted and trapped for food, but not for trophies. It is trophy hunting that is the greatest wrong done to these animals. The fact that Turnbull hides his-the coat of his catch-is testimony that he knows what he did was to open himself to controversy and, yet, he seems to have no remorse. This was not a hunt in the true sense of the word (to pursue). He baited with calls and then killed the wolf who responded.

This is truly a remarkable story; it is one that I will reread. I have traveled to Yellowstone to photograph the animals in Lamar Valley. I have seen the wolf watchers and have met the retired detective from Great Britain. I have not seen such dedication to observing and sharing as I have seen the watchers do.

I tend to gravitate to history and biology books and American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee, piqued my curiosity.

Having 3 canines, I believe they are very similar to their ancestors. Even with our dogs, I get the opportunity to observe their pack like and territorial behavior. At different times, I witness who is dominant and how they go about establishing boundaries and defending territory.

In this read, we learn about Yellowstones intra-pack rivalry that resulted in druids killing the alpha and we learn about alpha female O-Six reign.

I was hooked on this book from the prologue. As someone who enjoys reading, there are some words that lure me in. And "trudged' is one of them.

Perhaps it reminds me of the time I went hiking in New Hampshire with my brother who is about a foot taller than me, and in much better shape. Thankfully, he allowed me to catch up, but it was a long trudge back to the vehicle. And even though exhausted, I would not have wanted to miss the journey.

This read is an eye opener to the American Wolfs plight!

We learn about the wolves and people who spend theirs lives studying these majestic creatures, while others hunt them, in the extraordinary beauty, that is, and surrounds, Yellowstone.

Through this well written book of notes and amazingly detailed observations, we witness the journey of the American Wolf as it trudged through an eradication program, to a conservation movement.

For me, there was a gamut of emotions felt, with the turning of each and every page.

I happily reviewed for Blogging for Books.

In American Wolf, the reader is introduced to the wolf reestablishment program for wolves in Yellowstone Park. Hunted almost to extinction, this program has been a success, bringing wolves back to their habitats throughout the Rockies in states such as Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. While the program was a success with environmentalists who were heartened to see an ecosystem restored, it was greeted with anger and dismay by the ranchers who wanted the same land to graze their cattle and the hunters that felt that the wolves would threaten their livelihood of arranging elk hunts.

This controversy is illustrated through the life story of one particular wolf. She was the alpha female of a pack and was known as O-Six for the year of her birth. Park rangers and wolf-watchers followed her life from her infancy through her childhood to her mate selection and establishment of her own pack. They watched as she hunted, fought off other wolves interested in her territory and as she successfully raised several litters of puppies. She was a favorite of the watchers for her skill and grace and her intelligent creation of her pack.

But the book doesn't just talk about the individual wolves. The author also explains the legal battles going on in court between those interested in saving the wolves and those who wanted to eradicate them. He also explains the environmental benefits of the wolf introduction program. While some say that it hurts the elk population, others talk of species that benefit. For example, the beaver population exploded. This happened because as the elk adjusted to the new predators and moved upward in the valleys, the willows they ate in the creeks had more chance of survival. Since the willow is an important part of the beaver life, it helped more beaver to survive. The coyote population was reduced to a more stable number as the wolves were the superior predators and as the coyote population lowered, that of small rodents who were their prey, rose.

The author also talks about the humans involved. He explores the work of specific park rangers, men who have dedicated their lives to rescuing and assisting wildlife. He talks about the men and women who have made wolf-watching their life work, going out every day without fail to observe the wolves and make copious notes of their observations. The arguments of hunters are examined along with an in-depth study of one specific hunter. The reader will walk away from this book armed with an extensive knowledge of all sides of this compelling topic. This book is recommended for readers of nature books and those interested in environmental topics.

For National Wolf Awareness Week I read American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee. It is the story of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park and the battle between state and Federal agencies over wolf hunting. By telling the story of one wolf, O-6, Blakeslee engages the reader's heart and mind while revealing the complicated political process that determines American law that is too often independent of informed knowledge.

O-6 became a favorite of wolf watchers and her life is well documented. Blakeslee introduces readers to National Park Service employee Rick McIntyre who every day watched and recorded the activities of the wolves. And we meet those who rely on elk hunting for income or food or sport and who hate the wolves.

The hunters believe that wolves decimate elk herds and that banning any hunting leads to ending all hunting, therefore the end of any need for guns, therefore the banning of guns. In other words, they are fighting for their way of life. States arbitrarily determined how many wolves could be taken and how many were 'needed', totally unbased on any scientific understanding.

While one Federal agency reintroduced wolves into the Yellowstone ecosystem, another leased land contiguous to the park for ranchers to graze their livestock. Wolves don't understand imaginary boundaries and often their territory went into non-park land where they could be hunted. When packs are decimated and weak they take easy prey, which include the grazing livestock. The ranchers are then reimbursed for their losses. It is a vicious cycle that makes no logical sense.

I was appalled whle learning how Washington politics impacted the Yellowstone wolves. Congress overruled the court regarding the hunting of wolves. It had cost $117 million to restore wolves to the ecosystem. The results were dramatic; flora and fauna flourished as the environment returned to its natural state. Fewer elk ended overgrazing and brought a flourishing of fauna that brought back the beaver and rodents and consquently raptors. Yet no fewer elk were taken in the hunt, it just was not easy to find them. Legalizing hunting adjacent to the park land was like throwing that money and environmental stability to the wind.

Toward the end of the book, Rick realizes that wolf 21 had returned to die where his pack had once ruled. It puzzled him until he recalled the story of Hachiko, the Japanese Akita who had always waited at the train station for his owner, and after the owner's death had continued to come every day for nine years. 21 was waiting for his mate.

"Can a wolf in the wild experience what we know as joy and happiness? Rick said, his voice breaking noticeably. "And my answer is yes."

Blakeslee's book is a wonderful study both of the wolves and the complicated human reaction to wolves.

I received a free book through Blogging for Books in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

I tend to gravitate to history and biology books and American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee, piqued my curiosity.

Having 3 canines, I believe they are very similar to their ancestors. Even with our dogs, I get the opportunity to observe their pack like and territorial behavior. At different times, I witness who is dominant and how they go about establishing boundaries and defending territory.

In this read, we learn about Yellowstones intra-pack rivalry that resulted in druids killing the alpha and we learn about alpha female O-Six reign.

I was hooked on this book from the prologue. As someone who enjoys reading, there are some words that lure me in. And "trudged' is one of them.

Perhaps it reminds me of the time I went hiking in New Hampshire with my brother who is about a foot taller than me, and in much better shape. Thankfully, he allowed me to catch up, but it was a long trudge back to the vehicle. And even though exhausted, I would not have wanted to miss the journey.

This read is an eye opener to the American Wolfs plight!

We learn about the wolves and people who spend theirs lives studying these majestic creatures, while others hunt them, in the extraordinary beauty, that is, and surrounds, Yellowstone.

Through this well written book of notes and amazingly detailed observations, we witness the journey of the American Wolf as it trudged through an eradication program, to a conservation movement.

For me, there was a gamut of emotions felt, with the turning of each and every page.

I happily reviewed for Blogging for Books.

American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in late January.

While reading American Wolf, it felt like I was entering the world of my boyfriend's father, a man with deep-seated interest in the wolves of Yellowstone where each wolf is known by name, lineage, and migration. It's a little bit intimidating, but it's a world I want to understand, even if it means approaching it from the perspective of one of its most renown members, O-Six (granddaughter of Druid-21, the beloved favorite of my boyfriend's father). Due to this prevalent bias, it was immediately easy to both side against anti-wolf hunters and to mentally reconstruct the lay of Yellowstone's landscape as the author describes it (especially the Lamar Valley and Silver Gate). It was also easy to empathize with the narration on the matriculation, coming-of-age, and interactivity amid the packs over time (Druid-21 being the father and provider to a whole generation of wolves, sadness at the attack or trapping of an elder or weaker wolf, living through times of feast and famine, and migration to populated, lethal, anti-wolf areas).

This is a wonderfully informative book on the lives of wild wolves. I had the privilege of visiting Yellowstone and Glacier several years ago and will never forget the wildlife we saw. But no wolves were seen, I am thankful for books like these that show the part all wildlife plays in the grand scheme of things.
This book made me cry, laugh and appreciate the time that so many people spent documenting the lives of “protected” wolves that mostly resideded within Yellowstone and am grateful that I was able to read this great book.
I was provided an advance reading e- copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to provide a review and the opinions are my own. A homerun in my opinion. All animal lovers need to read this one.

“American Wolf” tells the story of one
famous female wolf named O-Six with
novelistic flare. After conservationists
returned wolves to Yellowstone and the
Rockies in 1995, O-Six, alpha of the Lamar
Canyon pack, was watched by hundreds
as she led her pack and raised her pups,
unaware of political turmoil.
Blakeslee interviewed both the humans
who love and those who hate wolves.
Learn about the wolf-huggers: wolf-watchers, Yellowstone park ranger
and wolf guru Rick McIntyre, and former school teacher Laurie Lyman.
Blakeslee also interviewed “Stephen Turnbull” the Wyoming hunter who
shot O-Six. Using years of notes from McIntyre’s observations, he takes
readers inside the wolf packs to share their victories and tragedies. Their
social lives and tribal ways bring O-six and generations of Yellowstone
wolves alive.
The complex story is deeper than wolf lovers versus ranchers and
hunters. Read “American Wolf” to learn about wolves and people and to
understand

This book was one of my favorite nonfiction reads this year!

One part a chronicle of the wolf O-Six and her pack's time in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone, part memoir of the wolf-watchers of Yellowstone, a detailed look at the politics surrounding wolf re-introduction and regulations, and also a testament to the ecological impact of wolves in the environment. This book packs a lot of valuable insight and information into a very reader friendly package.

One of the things I enjoyed most about reading American Wolf was Blakeslee's delicate handling of the way both wolf-lovers and wolf-hunters were portrayed in his account. Though he establishes background and reasoning objectively on both sides of the wolf argument, he also manages to establish emotional resonance with all the characters featured in this account. Whether we as readers relate to the hunters or the wolf-watchers is ultimately up to us. That's not to say that this book doesn't come down positively on the side of the wolf, I just appreciate how well the author was able to put forth both opinions and show readers why wolves truly are necessary in their environment.

For someone who is interested in animals, Yellowstone, wolves, and the politics surrounding wolves it is a definite must-have!

American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee is a story about a lone female wolf that resides in Yellowstone National Park. The story of the wolf in the United States is rather a tragic one, and the author follows what this wolf does as well as what people think of her. The book goes into just the right level of detail to get an understanding of wolf pack dynamics, wolf activities and the areas of the park where the wolves tend to visit.

The author has found a way to tell the story of O-six and her family, as well as the other wolves that live in the park. It's hard to put this book down, because you really want to know what happens next. The ending was unfortunate, but there is some optimism in the story. With the recent scaling back of several national parks, I fear for the effects on the wildlife like O-six.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This book is tremendous! Enlightening, heartbreaking and triumphant; it is a celebration of a creature that has captivated we humans since, I imagine, we began to tell stories. It's no wonder wolves have become caught up in the battle for how we view land use in the West. How do we see and value our natural spaces and how do we see ourselves in the landscape? How much of a role should the human hand play in managing our precious wildlands? You will probably have a better notion of answers for these questions once you read American Wolf. Nate Blakeslee really has written a wonderful book, it explores big ideas but it's also a compelling story. Its primarily the story of the life of one charismatic animal, 0-Six and the people who are drawn to her. The writing is so good, it's easy to imagine in your minds eye, 0-Six hurtling across a frozen landscape in full pursuit of a massive elk-it really takes your breath away...Spoiler alert, it usually does not end well for the elk...
As an added bonus for me, I was walking my dog while I listened to this book. It's hard to imagine my couch hogging pup has wolf dna in her but as I heard stories of the antics and behaviour of the wolves, I developed a new appreciation for all the sniffing and marking and roaming my pup lives for-I have made a new years resolution to give her more time unleashed....

‘American Wolf’ tells more than the story of the reintroduction of wolves to the west, but of their lives and of those who watch them.
Nate Blakeslee writes a book that becomes a readable story of both those who appreciate the wolves and of those who are violently against their restoration to the American Rockies.

The wolves are given an individual story especially that of the life of O-Six, described as a majestic creature. The packs of wolves are described, how they live and their part in the environmental circle of life.
This is a book for those interested in nature and the American west.

As a long time advocate of wolves and reintroduction, I loved this book. Nate Blakeslee's clear and compelling writing about the wolves of Yellowstone and its superstars, the Druids and O-Six, held me enthralled and I only wish there was more. I was particularly impressed with the author's objectivity especially concerning O-Six's killer, which would for me have been very difficult to demonstrate, but he succeeded admirably. Barry Lopez's Of Wolves and Men, and Rick Bass's Nine Mile Wolves have long been favorites, but now there is a third to round out the trio. It isn't often a a non-fiction account of the lives and deaths of wild creatures can move people to tears of grief, but this one most certainly does, while it celebrates the intelligence, compassion and joy of life that wolves possess. Should be required reading for all Federal employees that have anything to do with wildlife and national parks so science-based policies are imposed and followed, rather than the political, hysterical and profit-motivated whims of uninformed politicians and voters who elect them.

Blakeslee's book tells three different stories related to the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park in 1995. First, there's the legal and political saga, of victories for hunters and environmentalists either in Congress or the courts. He does a good job recounting this history, though it's not the most riveting part of the book. Second, he presents the perspective of the ranchers and hunters in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. For someone who lives in Brooklyn and has never hunted anything, these passages gave me insights on a culture that can feel completely foreigh. His attempt isn't to win over anyone to the hunters' and ranchers' arguments that hunting wolves is an appropriate wildlife management strategy, but he treats their positions, and their emotions, with respect. Finally, the star of the book is O-Six, the name for a female wolf who became a celebrity among the wolf-watchers drawn to Yellowstone. We learn of her bonds with two males wolves, her defense of her cubs, and, ultimately, her death. Along the way he also introduces aspects of the lives of wolves, how pack dynamics work, and a little bit of cultural and social history about man's relationship with the animals.

I wouldn't give the book five stars only because there was little in it that made me marvel or lead me to rethink everything. I wasn't bowled over. Instead, this read like a very good long magazine piece, which I guess makes sense given Blakeslee's resume and the fact that he's a writer-at-large for Texas Monthly. After finishing it, I have added Barry Lopez's Of Wolves and Men to my reading list, so I guess that is some testament to Blakeslee's ability to make his principal subject, the wolves of Yellowstone, interesting enough that at least this reader wants to learn more.

Well written and engaging. Does a decent job of representing the complexity of the political issues without being overly biased (although there is a pro-wolf slant to the book, the other viewpoints are not specifically vilainized and the motives for those viewpoints are set out clearly and objectively).

Includes great information about wolf ecology through vived narrative passages instead of being dryly descriptive.

Overall, a fantastic read.

Wolves are a divisive topic in the American West where they have been reintroduced. Wolf lovers, biologists, ranchers, politicians, townspeople all have opposing views, and the fluid boundaries between national wilderness and civilization create volatility. This book explores all aspects of the argument while exploring the life of a particular pack led by an unforgettable female wolf. Beautifully crafted and an amazing read

As someone that spends half the year in rural Wyoming near Yellowstone, I was really looking forward to reading about these magnificent animals.
The book does not disappoint.
Often it reads like a 'story', but does not get overly sentimental. No projecting human characteristics on to these wild wolves.
Some of this is surprising. Not only is it enlightening in terms of wolf behavior, but of human intervention as well.
Really interesting.

Phenomenal book that uses the story of an individual wolf to discuss the ecological, legal and human crossroads revolving around the wolf reintroduction program at Yellowstone. The stories of the people and animals involved come across beautifully. I'm sure many will say this book is left-leaning or "liberal." While I would say that animals/nature come across as the group that has been most wronged (rather than the hunters, ranchers or locals), I believe NB has done a masterful job of including every party's point of view and worked to truly understand their arguments. This is a truly remarkable book that should be fundamental reading for anyone wanting to understand the beauty of North American wildlife and the effect of human activities on that wildlife.

This is a great book about the recovery and reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone and the intermountain west. It's the personal stories of wolves themselves, biologists, wolf watchers, ranchers, politicians and ordinary people. Love them or hate them, this book has penetrating tales of the wolves and the men and women who followed them. Balanced and insightful. Well written.

Well written and engaging. Does a decent job of representing the complexity of the political issues without being overly biased (although there is a pro-wolf slant to the book, the other viewpoints are not specifically vilainized and the motives for those viewpoints are set out clearly and objectively).

Includes great information about wolf ecology through vived narrative passages instead of being dryly descriptive.

Overall, a fantastic read.

An incredibly heart-wrenching recount of the pack of wolves headed by female O-Six near the outskirts of Yellowstone. Details the interplay between hunters, preservationists, governmental authorities, local politics, tourists, and the wolves in a delicate and interesting way. Brings many points into consideration regarding the preservational aspects of our national parks and how easy it is for us to destroy nature at the same time we are trying to preserve it.

*My thanks to Crown Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book; it was my pleasure to provide my unbiased review*

I’ve always found wolves intriguing; they have this almost mythical quality to them. Prior to reading this book, the dire wolves from Game of Thrones were my favourite, but now, that title is firmly held by O-Six.

By the 1920’s wolves were eliminated from the lower 48 states of America, 50’s years later the federal government began the Reintroduction Project and by 1990, the project was in full effect – wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park, which covers mostly Wyoming but also spreads into Montana and Idaho. American Wolf is the story of the reintroduction, those in favour and those against it, and most importantly the lives of the wolves themselves.

I knew this book would interest me due to my fascination with wolves but I had no idea just how enthralled I’d be reading about the lives of these wolves. The idea of wolf-watching doesn’t appeal to me personally, but that is how Rick McIntyre, and others like him, spent every day for near on 20 years, and oh my, does it make fascinating reading. If you shy away from non-fiction because it feels ‘too heavy,’ I urge you to give this book a try as it really does read like a novel, you get so caught up in the “plot” and form a real connection to the “characters.” And by characters, I mean the wolves, some you immediately like, and when another pack is encroaching on their territory, you view them as the enemy and pray their attacks aren’t successful. I enjoyed reading about the formation of the pack, who is the alpha and how they maintain that status, how as a pack they hunt and survive, care for their pups and fend off the enemy. Also, why a wolf leaves the pack and sometimes returns. Not only did this make extremely interesting reading, I learnt so much. While I would not like to come face to face with a wolf, I loved that they were portrayed as fierce yet tender.

O-Six, as the blurb indicates, is the star of the show and what an exceptional wolf she is – defying the odds many times to survive. If you enjoy reading books featuring a family through the generations, I highly recommend American Wolf, because it is a story of a family’s survival through the generations, their love and loss, hardship and joy.

American Wolf is also rife with tension! When the reintroduction began, wolves were safe under the Endangered Species Act but what happens when this protection is removed. A law is passed and wolf hunting begins. While the wolves battle it out in Yellowstone National Park, the humans battle it out in court. And when men take to the park with their guns, you’re holding your breath, hoping your favourite wolf is not slain.

My review doesn’t even nearly do this book justice, I loved it from beginning to end and I’ll tell you now, my favourite animal – wolves [at a distance, not as a pet!] Blakeslee is an incredibly talented writer and really engages you in this book; though wolves do not speak, Blakeslee ensures they are heard.

I loved this book! The author writes amazing descriptions of the wolves in action, but also created a compelling portrait of the politics at play on the broader stage. Definitely one of my favorite non fiction books! American Wolf deserves all the great reviews. So pleased to have found this author, and to have gotten to know these wolves. I only wish I could have seen 0-6 in action!

Wolves are a divisive topic in the American West where they have been reintroduced. Wolf lovers, biologists, ranchers, politicians, townspeople all have opposing views, and the fluid boundaries between national wilderness and civilization create volatility. This book explores all aspects of the argument while exploring the life of a particular pack led by an unforgettable female wolf. Beautifully crafted and an amazing read

As someone that spends half the year in rural Wyoming near Yellowstone, I was really looking forward to reading about these magnificent animals.
The book does not disappoint.
Often it reads like a 'story', but does not get overly sentimental. No projecting human characteristics on to these wild wolves.
Some of this is surprising. Not only is it enlightening in terms of wolf behavior, but of human intervention as well.
Really interesting.

Phenomenal book that uses the story of an individual wolf to discuss the ecological, legal and human crossroads revolving around the wolf reintroduction program at Yellowstone. The stories of the people and animals involved come across beautifully. I'm sure many will say this book is left-leaning or "liberal." While I would say that animals/nature come across as the group that has been most wronged (rather than the hunters, ranchers or locals), I believe NB has done a masterful job of including every party's point of view and worked to truly understand their arguments. This is a truly remarkable book that should be fundamental reading for anyone wanting to understand the beauty of North American wildlife and the effect of human activities on that wildlife.

This is a great book about the recovery and reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone and the intermountain west. It's the personal stories of wolves themselves, biologists, wolf watchers, ranchers, politicians and ordinary people. Love them or hate them, this book has penetrating tales of the wolves and the men and women who followed them. Balanced and insightful. Well written.

This reads like a novel, but unfortunately enters the political realm about halfway through which puts a damper on the whole thing. I’m grateful the majority of information came from the notes of others, as the opinions of the author are really unremarkable and unnecessary. Presenting the information in this style of narrative should have been enough to get readers to consider the wolf’s plight. What I simply can’t fathom is why on earth are there no photos? There is one map but absolutely no images of any of the wolves mentioned. The only photo is the author’s head shot on the book jacket. For trying to give these wolves characterization, a face if you will, an actual photograph could have added wonders. One other gripe: if you are truly trying to get society to consider the wolves and their environment, wouldn’t you pledge a percentage of each book sale to a conservation organization? Nate Blakeslee is no better than the hunters, ranchers, and politicians in that he is now making a profit off of the difficulties of one of this country’s most iconic animals.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Powerful, intense, sad and cautiously optimistic.
This was a well written book about this polarizing issue. It almost had me crying at points. It's very important people are aware of these issues surrounding the reintroduction of Grey Wolves to Yellowstone. They are magnificent animals which are vital to the ecosystem and should not be taken for granted.

Important book about the plight of the wolf. By pulling the reader into the lives of various "characters" within this issue, the author does a top notch job examining the wolf conversation from all angles in compelling narrative. If you are at all ignorant of the 'wolf challenge', this is a must read.

O-Six was an amazing animal, certainly deserving of a book better than this one. It is tedious and boring largely because it borrows heavily from the mundane observations of park employees and other observers. They are mind numbingly dull. While I enjoyed learning about the life of the pack, the glorification of so called "sportsmen" was nauseating. Most repulsive was the interview of the cretin who gunned down O-six. The author is correct when he notes that this was legal. but being legal does not make it right, moral or ethical. The playing field is not level with these hunter well equipped with weapons, helicopters and the other accoutrements of the modern outdoorsman. The examination of the politics of protection is fairly well balanced but overall it was a tedious read.

Being an avid Yellowstone Park junkie I can only say anyone who has ever seen or heard the lonesome howl of wolves needs to read this book. I myself have been beyond fortunate to encounter wolves in the back country of Yellowstone and know they are an integral part of our spirit. Even if you are anti wolf the book is a must read.

I am a wolf watcher myself, and personally know Rick and Doug. These guys were tireless advocates for the wolf project. The killing of 06' was a dark day in Yellowstone. The Lamar Valley pack is currently only 3 members strong, the alpha female is a daughter of 06', wolf number 926F. We are praying for a recovery of the pack! The best thing about the book is the education of the reader as to the personality of the wolves. Having seen it, I already knew. Amazing to watch...always!!

A great read, for outdoor enthusiasts and animal lovers. Anyone, like me, who has visited Yellowstone National Park and been overwhelmed with it's endless beauty and power will connect with this story of the reintroduction of wolves to the park and its most famous one, 0-Six. Very well written; it caries the reader all the way to the end wondering, even though you probably already know the outcome.

Well written look at the wolves in Yellowstone and the people who watch and study them. By coming from notes, it makes for a comprehensive story. I wish choices could be made fairly without political agendas. eLibrary book

I love the animal, the American wolf (or more properly, the "gray wolf"). It's a noble, independent, yet family-loyal species that would have served us well as our national symbol in lieu of the bald eagle. I've read much and watched quite a bit of film involving wolves, some of it sublimely good. I feel I have a solid knowledge of the topic. I didn't like this book. Most people aren't going to like my review, but I'll call it as I see it.

The writing is competent, but not remarkable. As to content, my reaction is that the book, American Wolf, is at best rather boring, and at worst repulsive. Reading between the lines (and having read the Author's Notes in the front matter), author Nate Blakeslee compiled the voluminous notes of other field researchers and observers and presented them in an often uninteresting sequence of, "wolf #X encountered wolf #Y in valley #Z" . . . ad nauseum. One of these sources was a career national park employee that made daily observations for years, compiling thousands of pages of notes - the only apparent fruit of which seems to be this book. Blakeslee, importantly, also discusses the political scene regarding Yellowstone wolves, and their history of reintroduction starting in the 90's.

My most negative reaction is with regard to so-called "outdoorsmen", somewhat glamorized here. I'm not a hunter, but accept certain forms of hunting as functional and acceptable. However, big game and trophy hunting and stalking bother me. People that prey on large, beautiful, and often scarce animals, being small people, perhaps try to capture the grandeur of a great animal by killing it. Or relentlessly hounding it with a notebook and a camera. Or a tranquilizer gun and transmitter collar. And SUV's and airplanes.

I hope you'll consider my point. If you would indulge one last critical comment; One of the wolf heroes of this book is a female named, O-Six. A remarkable, powerful female specimen. In the end, O-Six was legally shot and killed by an outdoorsman bearing a rifle and a government issued tag (permitting a wolf kill). This hunter, was interviewed by author Nate Blakeslee, who then posed for a photograph with the pelt (i.e. trophy) of the dead animal. Blakeslee tries to narrate his way out of it, but the damage was already done (picture taken). I was disgusted and still am.

What an amazingly incredible read!!!! Beyond great! So insightful and well written. I am in awe in every way. Thank you Nate for bringing such a wealth of information and insight to the public for us to read. I could not put it down and now hunger for more! I was so intrigued by this book. I have been very fortunate to see a few wolves among my roaming in Montana with my dogs. These experiences are beyond words. I have a deep reverence for Earth and the wildness that inhabits it...seeing as how it supports our exsistance in every way. Human ignorance and greed is nothing short of disturbing at times. What a hopefulness the reintroduction of the wolves into Yellowstone gives us who see the value and purpose as well as have respect and reverence for wild Earth. Kudos to the reintroduction team and wolves for purservering in the face of ingnorance, hate, and greed.

*My thanks to Crown Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book; it was my pleasure to provide my unbiased review*

I’ve always found wolves intriguing; they have this almost mythical quality to them. Prior to reading this book, the dire wolves from Game of Thrones were my favourite, but now, that title is firmly held by O-Six.

By the 1920’s wolves were eliminated from the lower 48 states of America, 50’s years later the federal government began the Reintroduction Project and by 1990, the project was in full effect – wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park, which covers mostly Wyoming but also spreads into Montana and Idaho. American Wolf is the story of the reintroduction, those in favour and those against it, and most importantly the lives of the wolves themselves.

I knew this book would interest me due to my fascination with wolves but I had no idea just how enthralled I’d be reading about the lives of these wolves. The idea of wolf-watching doesn’t appeal to me personally, but that is how Rick McIntyre, and others like him, spent every day for near on 20 years, and oh my, does it make fascinating reading. If you shy away from non-fiction because it feels ‘too heavy,’ I urge you to give this book a try as it really does read like a novel, you get so caught up in the “plot” and form a real connection to the “characters.” And by characters, I mean the wolves, some you immediately like, and when another pack is encroaching on their territory, you view them as the enemy and pray their attacks aren’t successful. I enjoyed reading about the formation of the pack, who is the alpha and how they maintain that status, how as a pack they hunt and survive, care for their pups and fend off the enemy. Also, why a wolf leaves the pack and sometimes returns. Not only did this make extremely interesting reading, I learnt so much. While I would not like to come face to face with a wolf, I loved that they were portrayed as fierce yet tender.

O-Six, as the blurb indicates, is the star of the show and what an exceptional wolf she is – defying the odds many times to survive. If you enjoy reading books featuring a family through the generations, I highly recommend American Wolf, because it is a story of a family’s survival through the generations, their love and loss, hardship and joy.

American Wolf is also rife with tension! When the reintroduction began, wolves were safe under the Endangered Species Act but what happens when this protection is removed. A law is passed and wolf hunting begins. While the wolves battle it out in Yellowstone National Park, the humans battle it out in court. And when men take to the park with their guns, you’re holding your breath, hoping your favourite wolf is not slain.

My review doesn’t even nearly do this book justice, I loved it from beginning to end and I’ll tell you now, my favourite animal – wolves [at a distance, not as a pet!] Blakeslee is an incredibly talented writer and really engages you in this book; though wolves do not speak, Blakeslee ensures they are heard.

No other wild animal has as much attention focused on it, as does the wolf. There are a myriad of stories, fables, commentaries, poetry, and studies that portray the wolf in many lights, some mysterious and deeply moving, some heart-rending and tender, and some in unmitigated hatred. Nate Blakeslee, in his exhaustive study of the “American Wolf,” has used extensive observation of the wolf packs in the Yellowstone area of Wyoming to form the basis of his descriptions of their lives and times.

Two National Park Service employees, Rick McIntyre and Laurie Lyman, have spent years watching the Yellowstone wolves and cataloging their lives. The pair’s meticulous notes, photographs, and learned observations of their behavior were heavily relied on by the author as the foundation for his book, augmented with interviews with wildlife officials, residents, ranchers, politicians, and legal authorities. Blakeslee has compiled a comprehensive visit into the environment of wolves including details about their life, disputes about their place in society, zealous advocacy and intense displeasure of their being, and their welcome appearance in the crosshairs of avid hunters.

The legal battles impacting the role of wolves in the environment are stories in themselves. Lawsuits, hearings, rulings, and diverse activism may comprise the yardstick that measures their future. For every action that attempts to limit the wolf population there are counter moves to ensure that no harm comes to them. Each side is fervently convinced their reasoning is sound, and politics is the game that creates the slippery slope on which they survive.

This book is extremely well written with the author using a balanced voice in presenting all sides of the debate, although his compassion for the animal is unapologetically obvious. At the same time, he presents the story of the wolf in its own beautiful and dangerous environment, complete with its instinctive family orientation. His scenic backgrounds fill the reader’s mind with the allure of the Western Rockies and his descriptions of the wolves’ apprehension and the sheer delight while freely roaming their territory are heartening and a joy to read.

As a lifelong lover of the natural world, a frustrated naturalist with old legs, I heartily recommend this book as a near work of art, as close as one can get to truly enjoying our great outdoors and its creatures without actually going there.

Schuyler T Wallace
Author of TIN LIZARD TALES

An incredibly heart-wrenching recount of the pack of wolves headed by female O-Six near the outskirts of Yellowstone. Details the interplay between hunters, preservationists, governmental authorities, local politics, tourists, and the wolves in a delicate and interesting way. Brings many points into consideration regarding the preservational aspects of our national parks and how easy it is for us to destroy nature at the same time we are trying to preserve it.

I loved this book! The author writes amazing descriptions of the wolves in action, but also created a compelling portrait of the politics at play on the broader stage. Definitely one of my favorite non fiction books! American Wolf deserves all the great reviews. So pleased to have found this author, and to have gotten to know these wolves. I only wish I could have seen 0-6 in action!

While this inside look at how wolves once again came to roam Yellowstone National Park gives a well-balanced account of all the humans involved in the controversy, the book truly soars when recounting the personalities and habits of the various wolf packs. O-Six is the star, with near superpowers in the realms of both depredation and escape. The alpha wolf of her pack, she is a superb vessel for understanding why some people love wolves and others wish to hunt them. How O-Six’s story resolves is a scene to remember. Highly recommended for nature lovers and those hoping to understand public policy when it comes to endangered species.