The Return of Wolves - by Eli Francovich (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The gray wolf has made an astonishing comeback in Washington. After near complete eradication in the 1990s, conservationists and environmentalists have cheered this native species' robust return to the state over the last two decades. Washington ranchers are not so joyous. Each year, wolves kill some amount of livestock and ranchers view their livelihood as under attack. As the state seeks to manage its wolf population, a central conflict emerges-conservationists vs. commercial ranchers. One man, Daniel Curry, has jumped directly into the fray. Patrolling the rural landscape on horseback, Curry engages directly with farmers, seeking to protect livestock from wolves while also protecting and proliferating wolf populations. In The Return of Wolves, journalist Eli Francovich will introduce us to Curry, a singular character who has dedicated his life to the animal world and relearned the language of nature. Through Curry, we meet an eclectic cast of players-local ranchers, politicians, environmentalists, and everyday folks caught in the middle-who typify the scientific, political, and cultural repercussions of the return of wolves to Washington. While this is a story about wolves and conservation, Curry believes the Washington wolf wars are a symptom of the larger political and cultural divide throughout the country. Striking a balance in wolf land, he believes, would go a long way toward kneading the "dough of society" back together. And through his own unique approach, Curry's methods might just offer a model of reconciliation and successful wildlife/livestock management that could be repeated throughout the West, and the country at large"--

Book Synopsis

Uncover on-the-ground reporting on the conflict between conservationists, ranchers, and an iconic predator--and discover the solution that might appease them all.

The gray wolf has made an astonishing comeback in Washington. Nearly eradicated by the 1990s, conservationists and environmentalists have cheered its robust return to the state over the last two decades. But Washington ranchers are not so joyous. When wolves prey on livestock, ranchers view their livelihood as under attack.

In The Return of Wolves, journalist Eli Francovich investigates how we might mend this divide while keeping wolf populations thriving. He finds an answer in the time-honored tradition of range riding and one passionate range rider, Daniel Curry, who has jumped directly into the fray by patrolling the rural Washington landscape on horseback. Curry engages directly with farmers, seeking to protect livestock from wolves while also protecting and proliferating wolf populations. In The Return of Wolves, we meet an eclectic cast of players--local ranchers, politicians, environmentalists, and everyday folks caught in the middle--and find hope for the future of wolves, and perhaps for our divided nation.

Review Quotes

"The Return of the Wolves goes beyond the story of repopulating a sometimes romanticized, sometimes demonized, animal back to the wild in Washington. It's also a story about how policymakers, activists and those who live "out there" can alienate one another by living in their own echo chambers."--The Spokes-Man Review

"Through compelling descriptions of adventures in the wild -- tracking wolves in the snow, a tension-filled encounter with a wolfpack, a CSI-worthy post-mortem on a deer carcass -- Francovich deftly explores the return of wolves from multiple perspectives."--Inlander

"A solidly reported work that captures the nuance of wildlife conservation in the midst of political division."--Library Journal

"With keen observations and engaging writing, Francovich's balanced account concludes that compromise is the only way to ensure the future of wolves--and our planet."--Booklist

About the Author

Eli Francovich is a journalist who covers the environment, conservation and outdoor recreation in Washington for the Spokesman-Review, the state's second-largest newspaper. His work has been published in the Seattle Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Miami Herald, the Charlotte Observer, and elsewhere. He lives in Spokane, Washington.