The return of wolves An iconic predator's struggle to survive in the American West

Wolves and humans have a complicated history. Whether feared as predators or held up as symbols of the vanishing wilderness, wolves and their right to exist generate controversy. No one knows this better than Francovich, who, as a reporter for a Spokane newspaper, covered local politics and the economy. His articles often involved wolves, and no matter what he wrote, Francovich was routinely accused of bias. To become better informed, Francovich spent months working alongside cowboy-conservationist Daniel Curry, who acts as a bridge of sorts between wolves and the ranching community. Francovich creates an in-depth profile of Curry and also introduces individuals representing varying opinions: Washington Cattle Growers Association members, Native Americans whose tribal identity is entwined with wolves, ecologists trying to create peaceful compromises. Along the way, Francovich also covers the history of wolves, from their prehistoric ancestors to the carefully curated populations in today's national parks. With keen observations and engaging writing, his balanced account concludes that compromise is the only way to ensure the future of wolves--and our planet.

Francovich (outdoors reporter for the Washington Spokesman-Review) views the tensions over land management and the wolf reintroduction policy in Washington State as a cultural conflict of values, not merely a to-be-solved ecological equation of predators, prey, and commercial interests. It is, at heart, a sociopolitical question, as ranchers see their way of life threatened by wolves and the state and federal government forces that protect them. The author attempts to accurately convey the motives and perspectives of people from across the wolf restoration debate. By profiling ranchers whose presence de-escalates cattle predations, and wildlife managers creating fact-based policy to create conditions for recovery without overpopulation, Francovich explores a middle-ground option where the land-use needs of wolves and humans are held in precarious balance. However, this depiction of the muddy middle reinforces the paucity of neutral pragmatic solutions and the idea that the vast majority of people involved are either liberal urban elites with book smarts, or conservative rural residents who know the land. VERDICT A solidly reported work that captures the nuance of wildlife conservation in the midst of political division.--Wade Lee-Smith