American Wolf by; Nate Blakeslee

(A true story of survival and obsession in the West) This book was a birthday gift from my son and his wife. They had listened to it over their radio as they drove to Buffalo for my 90th Birthday Party. There were and still are interested people who have devoted their lives studying the lives of wolves in Yellowstone Park. Rick McIntyre a renowned naturalist is featured in the book. As we read we get to know individual wolves by their numbered names. One in particular was O-Six. She was a strong leader of her pack and nursed a number of pups to majority. We learn that in addition to being superb killing machines, they have personalities and emotions, showing caring attitudes and anger. They protect their pact as best they can. I always wondered how they fed their cubs. They gorge on a kill and return to the den and regurgitate the meat. Millions of tourists visited with Rick watching the wolves. They created a lobbying group when open hunting was proposed for Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. When the massive Stimulus Bill was approved under President Obama there was wording hidden in the bill taking away judges authority to stop hunting and the killing spree began. This resulted in the death of 0-Six, other collared wolves and hundreds of others. To his credit in the fall of 2011 when Congress once again tried to attach a wolf related rider to a must pass bill, President Obama insisted on a clean bill and it was removed. The really interesting thing about wolves is that their presence improved the eco-system. The balance created by them worked miracles. Without the threat of wolves, they congregated in the lower valleys living like cattle which resulted in erosion and silt clogging the streams. After wolves, they spent more time in the woods. There were other benefits as well. You will have to read to understand or go to the Internet but it appears true. You may find this book interesting to read, I did. Jack B. Walters August 4, 2018