The northeast Minnesota neighborhood "where the great white pines were mature when the Declaration of Independence was signed" is Henricksson's domain. As the title implies, his dozen essays are loosely sketched portraits of his rather eccentric neighborsblack bear, moose, loons, eagles, marten, Canada jays, beaver. The editor of North Writers and North Writers II, Henricksson scatters his chapters with factual tidbits: the barred owl has "the keenest hearing of any bird," enabling them to hear a mouse running on hard-packed earth 50 yards away; biologists consider ravens to be among the most intelligent of all wild creatures, while the seven-foot-tall moose have baseball-sized brains and aren't exceptionally bright. His sympathy extends to the large fuzzy wolf spider, the only spider to carry her eggs and hatchlings on her body. The chapter that rises among the rest is the last, "Ghosts." Here Henricksson, describes the tracesa sighting, a set of tracks, a bodyof largely extirpated cougars, fishers, wolverines and caribou. Although there's a rather once-over-lightly quality to this book, Henricksson does manage to capture the psychological rush of encounters with wildlife. (Oct.)
The neighborhood in question is Gunflint Lake in the International Boundary Waters area of northern Minnesota. This delightful collection of essays portrays the unique personalities of various northern woodland natives: the owl, bear, moose, purple marten, beaver, spider, deer, and raven, to name just a few. Henricksson divides his time between his Mahtomedi, Minnesota, home and a wilderness cabin at Gunflint Lake, where he is in a perfect position to observe the antics of his wild neighbors. Fascinating anecdotes describe the almost personal relationships that develop between humans and other animalsbears who raid the bird feeder, an injured raven who joins a family and strikes up a friendship with their dog, deer who appear for their daily treats throughout the long winter months. These tales of the north woods are enhanced with woodcuts by award-winning artist Betsy Bowen. This will be enjoyable reading for anyone who has an interest in the wilderness and its native inhabitants.Deborah Emerson, Monroe Community Coll. Lib., Rochester, N.Y.
