A new era for wolves and people : wolf recovery, human attitudes and policy /

Wolves have coexisted, although tenuously, with humans for centuries. Recently, humans have developed a growing tolerance for wolves. In response, governments and nongovernmental groups have promoted their retention, recovery, and reintroduction. With protection, increased habitat, and growing wild prey populations, wolves have rebounded, expanded their ranges, and adapted to cultural landscapes. In contrast to the regionally focused Recovery of Gray Wolves in the Great Lakes Region of the United States, ed. by A. Wydeven et al. (CH, Oct'09, 47-0868), this book reviews the current state of wolves in North America and Europe. Most enlightening and intriguing is the recovery, restoration, and spread of wolves in Europe from Spain to the Baltic, Balkans, Carpathians, Finland, and Russia. Because wolves' ranges cross many national boundaries, cooperatively managing contiguous and fragmented populations presents problems. The art and science involved in transnational management plans for rebounding wolf populations are well covered in the first part of the book. The second section, employing a strong human-dimension approach, examines human culture, ethics, and attitudes influencing wolf recovery and presents approaches to involve the public in achieving wolf conservation. An important and useful contribution to literature on wolf recovery and management. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic, professional, and general collections, all levels. R. L. Smith emeritus, West Virginia University