The Return of Wolves

An Iconic Predator’s Struggle to Survive in the American West

Contributors

By Eli Francovich

On Sale
Apr 11, 2023
Page Count
240 pages
Publisher
Timber Press
ISBN-13
9781643260730

Uncover on-the-ground reporting on the conflict between conservationists, ranchers, and an iconic predator—and discover the solution that might appease them all. 

The gray wolf has made an astonishing comeback in Washington. Nearly eradicated by the 1990s, conservationists and environmentalists have cheered its robust return to the state over the last two decades. But Washington ranchers are not so joyous. When wolves prey on livestock, ranchers view their livelihood as under attack.

In The Return of Wolves, journalist Eli Francovich investigates how we might mend this divide while keeping wolf populations thriving. He finds an answer in the time-honored tradition of range riding and one passionate range rider, Daniel Curry, who has jumped directly into the fray by patrolling the rural Washington landscape on horseback. Curry engages directly with farmers, seeking to protect livestock from wolves while also protecting and proliferating wolf populations. In The Return of Wolves, we meet an eclectic cast of players—local ranchers, politicians, environmentalists, and everyday folks caught in the middle—and find hope for the future of wolves, and perhaps for our divided nation.

  • “A solidly reported work that captures the nuance of wildlife conservation in the midst of political division.”
    Library Journal
  • “With keen observations and engaging writing, Francovich's balanced account concludes that compromise is the only way to ensure the future of wolves—and our planet.”
    Booklist
  • The Return of the Wolves goes beyond the story of repopulating a sometimes romanticized, sometimes demonized, animal back to the wild in Washington. It’s also a story about how policymakers, activists and those who live “out there” can alienate one another by living in their own echo chambers.”
    The Spokes-Man Review
  • “Through compelling descriptions of adventures in the wild — tracking wolves in the snow, a tension-filled encounter with a wolfpack, a CSI-worthy post-mortem on a deer carcass — Francovich deftly explores the return of wolves from multiple perspectives.”
    Inlander

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$28.00

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$35.00 CAD

Eli Francovich

Eli Francovich

About the Author

Eli Francovich is a journalist who covers the environment, conservation and outdoor recreation in Washington for the Spokesman-Review, the state’s second-largest newspaper. His work has been published in the Seattle Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Miami Herald, the Charlotte Observer, and elsewhere. He lives in Spokane, Washington.

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