My husband and I have a howler. Not the unhappy kind found in the Harry Potter books (that’s a piece of mail I hope I never receive) but the furry kind that has four paws and whiskers. Leo, half Bengal and half something else, lives to howl — in the bedroom, in the kitchen, in the bathroom. He learned quickly that letting out some howls in the bathtub is awesome because of the reverberation. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s half wolf. Is there such a thing as a wolfeline?
Perhaps Leo knows that National Wolf Awareness Week is observed in October. These beautiful animals play an important part in nature, but their presence is not always celebrated or appreciated. The relationship between humans and wolves is complicated, to be sure, as there are those who view the wolf as a dangerous predator and whose population needs to be controlled while others champion Canis lupus, doing all they can to support the conservation of the species.
If you would like to know more about wolves, the library has many books and DVDs to help expand your knowledge of wolf behavior as well as the human-wolf connection. I know that wolves are a fascinating subject for both kids and adults, so I’ve selected some titles appropriate to both audiences. By the way, feel free to howl when you read these books. Leo heartily approves this message.
ADULT:
- “Never Cry Wolf” by Farley Mowat.
- “Rise of Wolf 8: Witnessing the Triumph of Yellowstone’s Underdog” by Rick McIntyre.
- “The Wolf Connection: What Wolves Can Teach Us About Being Human” by Teo Alfero.
- “Wolf Haven: Sanctuary and the Future of Wild Wolves in North America” by Annie Marie Musselman.
- “Wolves in the Land of Salmon” by David Moskowitz.
CHILDREN:
