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Overview
"Rarely does one encounter scientific writing that is at the same time authoritative, full of well-documented data, and yet as readable as this book. It is good literature as well as good science. Readers almost feel as though they are looking over the shoulder of the observer, feeling his discomfort at the cold and rain, his excitement when something new and unexpected happens, and sharing in the sadness over the demise or misfortune of an animal that had long ago become a friend."—Quarterly Review of Biology
"The variety, power, and pleasure of modern natural history shines brightly in this book. Long and sympathetic watching, radio tracking, chemical analysis... are all part of this naturalist's ingenious and peaceable arsenal of inquiry into the lives of porcupines."—Scientific AmericanThe North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is universally recognizable, yet has a complex biology that continues to fascinate. This large-bodied, slow-moving herbivore is found in coniferous and mixed forested areas through much of the northern and western United States and in Canada. The porcupine would be ill equipped to avoid any sort of predator were it not for its most distinguishing feature—a unique natural defensive system of thousands of sharp, barbed, multipurpose quills, which are marvels of evolutionary adaptation.Intrigued by the porcupines after he discovered them gnawing at the plywood of his Catskills cabin, the biologist Uldis Roze has spent twenty-five years tracking and studying this solitary animal. His firsthand observations are a revelation; throughout the second edition of his classic work on the subject, he shows how much can be learned by "following a porcupine in the woods." Quill design, defensive reactions, foraging, reproduction, and life cycle are among the topics illuminated by Roze in this fine example of forest ecology.Roze's comprehensive knowledge of this important mammal will interest wildlife managers in addition to a wide audience of natural history readers. The penultimate chapter, in which the author rehabilitates an orphaned porcupine he names Musa, teaching her to climb trees and forage, show the scientific insights that come from such pursuits—such as the discovery of clay-eating in the porcupine diet—but also the pure joy and excitement of gaining a window into the world of the porcupine. Roze's writing beautifully unites scientific research with a naturalist's fascination with the outdoor world and the lives of his subjects: Each animal he encounters is "a teacher, a storyteller of the woods, a complexifier and adorner of the world."
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780801446467 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Cornell University Press |
| Publication date: | 07/15/2009 |
| Edition description: | second edition |
| Pages: | 296 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d) |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
What People are Saying About This
This is an engaging and interesting book that will be of interest to general readers and specialists alike. The new material in the second edition of The North American Porcupine—especially the information on defense reactions and Uldis Roze's up-close observations derived by following the life of a single individual-is informative and adds new dimensions.
Uldis Roze is a sensitive and articulate observer not only of porcupines but also of the myriad of ecological relations that make a forest. He writes in an inviting style and takes you with him as he follows porcupines during the night. The North American Porcupine is a scientific work that nonetheless contains all the emotions that fill people with admiration for the natural world. The first edition had had a strong influence on my career as it had prompted me to start a research program on porcupines. Although everyone knows the North American porcupine, no one has spent more time observing them than Uldis Roze. This shows in every page of this book. The second edition will make available to naturalists and scientists the latest findings on the biology of porcupines. I would recommend it not only to anyone with an interest in porcupines but also to anyone with an interest in biodiversity hidden close to home.
Uldis Roze can find a score of mysteries during every walk in the woods. In The North American Porcupine he transforms a prickly varmint into an intriguing animal whose every action raises an ecological and evolutionary question whose thread must be followed. This book is a comprehensive and sympathetic description of the life and biology of porcupines, expressed through the cycles of the seasons and of their lives. But it is also the personal story of a naturalist's decades-long journey of discovery. These stories show that there is still as much to learn from close attention to the world in our own backyards as there is from far travels. The first edition was among my favorite natural history books. This second edition adds new chapters and updated information that improves and completes both the scientific content and our understanding of porcupine life history.
The porcupine is one of those familiar animals that everyone recognizes but few people know anything about. Uldis Roze's book provides a wealth of fascinating details written in an engaging, accessible style. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in nature.