Books all about animals
St. Joseph, MO (News-Press NOW) — We share the earth with animals but often don’t know much about them. This month’s selection of books from the St. Joseph Public Library are all about animals. The books discussed here are available at the St. Joseph Public Library, at other Missouri Evergreen libraries, or from one of the SJPL eContent vendors. Visit the library’s catalog at https://sjpl.modiscovery.org to find these or other great books to enjoy.
What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman. Why do humans think of Owls as bearers of messages and signs? Owls have a reputation for wisdom but are they smart? Over. 260 species of owls exist today. Owls do affect humans. Studying Owls has resulted in better hearing tests for human babies. Little known owl facts, how to see owls, and the history of owls are all in a readable book. This is not a dry textbook.
Bringing back the Beaver: The Story of One Man’s Quest to Rewild Britain’s Waterways by Derek Gow. The beaver’s role as a keystone species is thoughtfully and humorously presented by Gow. The beaver has a large effect on its territory and other species requiring wetlands for survival. As an engineer and architect, the beaver is a great contributor to his neighbors including humans. If you enjoy a good fight against the odds story that is full of humor, this book is one you would enjoy.
A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds by Scott Weidensaul. If you like human travel adventures or the wonder of birds, this book will keep you reading. Being stalked by a grizzly while birding or a bird managing to cross an ocean non-stop will find you informed and surprised. Amazing tales of unbelievably long non-stop migrations, physical metamorphosis to prepare for journeys and the rigors of their human followers studying them will keep the reader engrossed.
Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach. A jaywalking moose. Rampaging elephants. Breaking and entering bear. Murderous leopard. Trespassing squirrels. If any of these intrigue you, read this book! Known for her humous writing on the interaction of human and animal world, the author keeps the reader laughing and learning. Where human territorial expansion meets wildlife habitats, humor can occur. Equitably solving these situations has brought about the science of human-wildlife conflict.
The Return of the Wolves: An Iconic Predator’s Struggle to Survive in the American West by Eli Francovich. This is a book that stirs strong emotions both pro and con with the reintroduction of wolves to their original ranges. It is an argument that has raged for decades. The author presents both sides of the fight as well as a solution, that is not perfect, but a good starting point for both sides to work from. This solution brings back an old practice with a new twist. The experience of the range riders themselves makes for interesting reading.
