Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story
of Life Among Arctic Wolves by
Farley Mowat
Never Cry Wolf
More than a half-century ago the Canadian Wildlife Service assigned the
naturalist Farley Mowat to investigate why wolves were killing arctic
caribou. Mowats account of the summer he lived in the frozen tundra
alone-studying the wolf population and developing a deep affection for the
wolves (who were of no threat to caribou or man) and for a friendly Inuit
tribe known as the Ihalmiut (People of the Deer)-is a work that has become
cherished by generations of readers, an indelible record of the myths and
magic of wild wolves.
Personal Review: Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life
Among Arctic Wolves by Farley Mowat
In Never Cry Wolf, Farley Mowat has written a fascinating book that
sympathetically explores the lives of Canadian Grey Wolves in the Arctic.

The author is a rebel against bureaucracy and against the old way of
looking at wolves as predators who endangered caribou and other animals
in their territories. As a newly minted biologist, he is tasked by the
Canadian wild life ministry to document wolf decimation of the caribou in
the arctic. Mowat is dropped off in the middle of nowhere with provisions
and a several month mandate to undertake his mission and produce a field
report.
But he immediately rebels against the pre-conceived conclusion as well as
the typical way of doing things upon finding his first wolf. Following it back
to its den, Mowat begins a long observation of the wolf family's
relationships and habits. He literally camps for entire days very near his
quarry and begins to mimic their habits (as well as diet at one point). He
quickly concludes that the wolves are not ceaseless caribou predators and
instead subsist on field mice he observes them tracking and brining back
to the den every day. In fact, the wolves appear only to take caribou
sporadically, and the weak and sick at that. But what Mowat learns about
wolf life makes the heart of the book.
In Mowat's skillful telling, the wolves' deep family patterns and affections
are revealed. His observations personify the canis lupus family to the point
where they act and behave more like a successful and loving nuclear
family in your own neighborhood than the wild predators they are thought
to be.
This is a very sympathetic book and makes a great case for conservation
and the preservation of wild animal habitat. It is beautifully written in
places and fascinating for the insights the author delivers on his subject.
It was disappointing upon researching this book further to learn that many
accuse Mowat of basically making large parts of the book up (including
those who worked with him who have made some pretty tough accusations
relating to basic facts surrounding his story). In fact, the author in
interviews has not squarely denied using some license to drive to his
sympathetic portrayals of wolves. This doesn't make the book any less
well written or touching, but it does hurt the credibility of the conclusions
the author seeks to make.
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves by Farley Mowat 5
Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price!