The Hidden Life of Wolves

ThephotographyisstunninglybeautifulandtheinsightsthatJimandJamieDutchersharewithusopensaworldofunderstandingintowolfbehavior."–ApogeePhotoMagazineDelveintoamazinglyintimatewolfphotographybyJimandJamieDutcher,acouplewhospentmanyyearslivingwithapackofwolvesattheedgeofIdaho'sSawtoothWilderness,observingtheircomplexsocialhierarchy.Hereisthealphapair,leadersofthepack,oftentheonlycouplethatmate.Herearethepups,bornwitheyesshutinthespring,tousledbytheirmotherthroughthefirstsixweeksoflife.Hereistheomegawolf,lowestrankingwolfinthepack,whosesubservience,oftenplayful,alleviatespacktension.Herearemomentsofcooperationandmomentsofsnarlingdominance,momentsofcommunicationandaffection.Here,too,areheartwarmingmomentsofconnectionbetweentheDutchersandthewolves,caughtinpicturesthatremindushowclosethelinksarebetweenwolvesinthewildandthebelovedfamilydog.Shortchaptersintroducethewolvesasindividuals,describetheDutchers'yearsofcomingtoknowthem,andaddressthecomplexconservationissuessurroundingthenear-extinctionandnowreplenishmentofthespeciesinthewild.Sidebarsexploremythsaboutwolves,includingNativeAmericanspiritstories,Europeanfairytales,andmodernranchinghearsay.Foranimallovers,naturelovers,environmentalists,andespeciallydoglovers,thisbooksharesthenewunderstandinggainedbysixyearsoftheauthors'livingintimatelywithwildwolves.CreatedtocomplementatravelingexhibitionthatmakesitsdebutatChicago'sFieldMuseuminMarch2013,itwillalsoappealtothoseunabletoseetheshow.