Douglas H. Chadwick

As much as we’d like to imagine humans being the standout and stand alone of Earth’s organisms, it just isn’t true. We share much of our genetic material with the other beasties that live here – sharing 80% of our DNA with grizzly bears (as the author says, that makes us 4/5ths grizzly!) and over 98 percent of our DNA with our most closely related species, chimpanzees and bonobos.

Many are familiar with commensal organisms where each species is mutually benefited or true symbiotic organisms such as the joining of fungus and alga or cyanobacteria into a distinct symbiotic lichen. Newer discoveries include that the fungi long known to be found along plant roots, the mycorrhizae, are not just free-loaders but true symbiotes with the plants.

Fewer recognize that humans also fall into these categories with their millions of bacteria and yeast providing digestion in the human gut, as well as protection against harmful micro-organisms on skin and mucous membranes. As the author jokes we are not a single being; each of us is legion.

Because we may not recognize the inter-connectedness of species at the present time, doesn’t mean that the connections don’t exist – and if we don’t know the connections, each time extinctions happen, we cannot predict the brokenness caused.

I was interested in his descriptions of bringing islands back to balance by eliminating invading species, and also the Y2Y – the Yellowstone to Yukon – Corridor where wildlife could travel unimpeded over long distances.

One of this books' strengths is that is beautifully illustrated including many gorgeous photos. It’s also printed on heavier than usual paper that has an extra nice feel to it – probably chosen for the photographs, but it does enhance the textural experience.… (mer)

This book is one of a number of must reads if you care about our and our children's futures.

"Wolverines belong to the carnivore family known as the Must elide, more commonly called the weasel family after its most familiar members. From a public relations standpoint, this is a bit unfortunate, considering how corporate shills, slammers, faithless lovers, and hedge fund managers keep giving weasels a bad name."

This book is at once an uplifting account of wildlife biologists and volunteer assistants studying wolverines in the wild; the beauty of wilderness and a heart-rending exposure of the harsher side of Nature's sway; and yet more maddening evincing of how prevalent ignorance and cruelty are in the human condition.

I have a deep respect for the hardy souls that labor so perseveringly to help us understand the natural world that enables our existence, and that do so for a pittance, or simply because they care deeply. To me they exemplify the rare wisdom and good in humanity.

My favorite chapter epigraph in the book is:

A man cried: O Heavenly Spirit, speak to me that I may know You exist and care for my fate. And a sparrow appeared on a nearby branch, singing its heart out.

The man didn’t understand. O Creator, he cried again, let me hear your voice.

And in front of the man’s face, a bee buzzed past bearing pollen from flower to flower. A butterfly followed, floating on rainbow wings to sip nectar.

Still the man did not understand. Instead, he called more loudly yet: O Maker of All That Is, if You won’t speak to me, let me feel Your touch just once, I pray.

The Creator touched him. As the wolverine that had just bit the man on the ass loped away, the man shook his fist toward the sky, yelling: Now I am suffering because of a beast with a terrible nature. Why, oh why won’t You ever give me a sign?

And the Creative Spirit sighed: I wish I had designed these hairless apes with more intelligence. But even I don’t always get it right the first time.

~ Chadwick, Douglas. The Wolverine Way. Patagonia.… (mer)

The author spent seven years studying mountain goats, mainly in Glacier National Park. He camped on the slopes and followed them closely, collaring and tagging some but also learning to identify others by slight individual differences, and to tell males/females apart at different ages, which sounds particularly difficult. He describes the animal in all regards- its physical shape which is so perfectly adapted to living on steep slopes, its eating habits, survival strategies and social structure. The terrain it favors and why, the other animals that share its habitat, how it has avoided competition from most other species and also most predators, but is particularly vulnerable to hunting and distubances caused by man. There is a chapter about how mountain goats evolved (they are more closely related to chamois and serow than to bighorn sheep or any kind of actual goat), and another about why their behavior is so different from sheep. The book explains why they are so belligerent to their own kind and how this actually facilitates their survival. There are diagrams and explanations of their distribution across mountain ranges and what happened when they were introduced to new areas. On a more personal bent, there are passages where the author describes his experiences climbing the mountains to follow the goats, his first sighting of a newly-born mountain goat kid, the harshness of winter storms, many examples of how the goats lead their day-to-day lives and how he was finally able to approach a few mountain goat herds closely enough to sit among them and be part of their social interactions (literally- he knew enough of the goats’ body language to maintain dominance among them until one larger male threatened him a few times when he was too close, and then his social standing among the others gradually slipped!) It’s very apparent that the author greatly admired these animals and enjoyed spending time with them in spite of the hardships during his study. His writing about the wildlife and the surrounding landscape is beautifully done. Constant references to the mountain goats as “the white beasts” or “the bearded ones” did get a bit repetitive! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book

from the Dogear Diary… (mer)

I can’t imagine any coach, if he were to read The Wolverine Way, not wanting to coach the University of Michigan Wolverines football team, despite the book not being about football or the state of Michigan. It’s no wonder Michigan fans are hard-pressed to accept it when their team loses to the Ohio State Buckeyes. I mean, a buckeye? How aggressive or athletic can a tree be? Losing to OSU is an indignity that the animals described in The Wolverine Way simply wouldn’t countenance.

Wolverines, who as adults mostly go about 30 lbs., sometimes make grizzlies turn tail. Wolverines can run virtually forever. Wolverines, if trapped in a log structure, do what? They start chewing through the logs. Left unattended they’ll gnaw their way to freedom. And Buckeyes? Buckeyes have a candy named after them. No joke. OK, the nut-like seed of the buckeye is toxic enough to sicken, but wolverines are furry fighters full of fury and unflagging will. Ain’t nothin’ like ‘em, brother.

And yet, in common with many creatures, their residence in the northern Montana landscapes detailed by the author is one that’s vulnerable to various threats, despite the toughness and fortitude wolverines display.

As for all that Wolverine−Buckeye nonsense above, it just illustrates that animals as remarkable as wolverines prompt one to personify, dramatize, and mythologize them. In this book we learn it’s enough to have the facts, which are a challenge to discover and inspire a special fascination. Their effects on the researchers lead author Chadwick to write [edited for brevity]:
“We spoke of wolverines most of the day when afield. In the evenings, [when] we could turn the conversation to any subject we wanted, we would talk about wolverines...We were enthralled.”

Douglas H. Chadwick has composed an excellent introduction to this amazing animal, with many fine photos, interesting stories about individual animals, and good accounts of trying to learn about the unique lives wolverines lead. It is a book to be sought out by readers who enjoy learning more about the animals of the world.… (mer)