More Than
Wolves, the Whole Ecosystem
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Wolves of Denali
by Adolf Murie
Who must have this book: Anyone who loves wolves.
Who should have this book: Anyone who is traveling
to Denali National Park and would like to understand the ecology
of the park.
ISBN: 0295962038
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If
you have any interest in the Ecosystems of Denali, you need to get
this and Adolph Muries other books on Denali. The book is the result
of pioneering research done by Adolph from April 1939 until August
1941 and has a definite academic feel to it. But the book is filled
with anecdotal stories that bring string along like stories from around
the fire.
The purpose of Murie’s research was to find out how wolves were
affecting the park’s population of Dall Sheep so you will end
up learning as much about Dalls as you do wolves. The most amazing
piece I learned was that the sheep have a relatively short shelf life.
They are limited by their teeth which wear out in twelve to fifteen
years. You will really see Dalls and their habitats in a different
light after you read this book, I sure did.
The writing is great, Murie has an easy style that may at times be
academic, but never boring. His abilities of observation and diligence
come through clearly and he is complete in his coverage of wolves
and their place in the park.
Overview
The book opens with a brief overview of Denali National
Park, then it plunges right into the world of the Wolf. The Second
Chapter is a in depth look at wolves in the park as well as stories
of raising a captive wolf pup and encounters with wild wolves.
The next three chapters go into the major predator-prey relationships
between wolves, dall sheep, caribou and moose. Murie goes into great
details about each of the relationships and into the natural history
of each of the prey species. He also stays specific to the park so
this is a great resource for people planning to visit the park.
After the predator prey relationships, there are chapters about the
competition and inter-relationships with the other predators in the
park including wolverines, coyotes, fox, and of course bears. The
chapter on bears is filled with bear stories, but if you want more
bear coverage, think about getting Adolph Murie’s A Naturalist
in Alaska or Grizzlies of Mount McKinley. Or better yet, get them
all, it will only help you appreciate your time in Alaska.
Author
Adolf Murie and his Brother Olaus pioneered natural
history in Alaska. They are widely quoted and reprinted in hundreds
of publications and they created the foundation of our understanding
of Alaskan ecosystems. Books by Adolf Murie include, Naturalist
in Alaska, Wolves of Mount McKinley,
and Grizzlies of Mount McKinley.
