Absolutely not for everyone. McIntyre loves his subject and, while that rubs off some on the casual reader, it won't make this a book that you just cannot put down. I read this slowly in bits and pieces and found that to be enough. A must-read if you have an interest in the subject, I'm sure, but otherwise not your best choice. ( )

Lots and lots of wolf stories, with very little beyond that. The author is incredibly dedicated to wolf observation, and I don't know how he found the time to write this. It is well written, too. I'm not sure of anyone to whom I'd recommend this, but taken in small doses I liked it.

> She led them to the creek. With years of experience at getting pups across creeks and rivers, 42 knew how to trick the pups into following her. It took her many attempts, but using a series of different sticks, 42 lured the pups across Soda Butte Creek and then through the wider Lamar River. When the pups balked at a crossing attempt, she would come back to them with a different stick and show it to them. Intrigued by the newer toy, the pups would run after her, and before realizing it, they were once again in the water and wading or swimming toward her

> Two packs would come into conflict and fight. Young males and females from those families would often get together later and form new packs. It was the wolf version of what used to be called college mixers ( )

Rick McIntyre’s The Reign of Wolf 21 purports to be a natural history of a particular wolf pack, but it is actually a love story, featuring an out-sized hero and heroine couple, set in a war zone. The war zone is Yellowstone National Park, and the protagonists are four-legged predatory canines.

McIntyre is a park ranger and naturalist who studies wolf behavior. In particular, he has followed the lives of wolves in several packs in eastern Yellowstone since their reintroduction into the park in 1995. His observations are especially enlightening to former city kids, like me, who were raised with stories about Big Bad Wolves.

True, wolves are killers. And they are very, very tough, and I daresay, brave. In fact, large males have been known to chase mountain lions up trees and even fight off bears that threaten their young. They specialize in killing prey much larger than themselves, particularly elk and even young or somewhat disabled bison. [They aren’t up to taking healthy bull bison.] They also find it easy to kill domestic animals like cattle or sheep, which contributes to their unpopularity among ranchers. Moreover, they are territorial. Although they often adopt a new wolf that ventures into their territory, they will usually fight (sometimes to the death) groups of interlopers. Indeed, the most frequent cause of death among adult wolves is killing by wolves of other packs.

However, in many ways they exhibit traits that humans consider noble. They are very intelligent, and they love to play, especially with their pups. They are extremely loyal to their immediate families and ferociously protective of their offspring. They are very generous and sharing: adults can consume up to 20 pounds of meat in a single meal, but they then regurgitate most of it for consumption by pack members too young to hunt. Unlike lions, they almost never fight with pack members over access to their kills. They are altruistic: pack leaders risk their own lives to fend off bears or other wolf packs to protect their own pack.

But among wolves, some are braver, stronger, more loyal, more altruistic, and better leaders than the others. And the bravest, strongest, most loyal, most altruistic, and best leader of them all was Wolf 21. [Unfortunately, most wolves are known only by a number given to them when they are anesthetized and given a radio collar—it’s too burdensome to give them more distinguishable names.]

The author first encountered Wolf 21 in the winter of 1999/2000. 21 had recently become the alpha male of the group known as the Druid Pack, which included two adult female sisters, 40 and 42. 40, the elder, was overly aggressive, always bullying her younger sister and other pack members. McIntyre even theorized that 40 had once killed 42’s pups. In April 2000 40 was killed by other wolves, and 42 became the alpha female of the Druids. Thus began a romance between 21 and 42 that lasted the rest of their lives.

The principle narrative of the book is the relationship between 21 and 42, emphasizing their loyalty and affection for one another. They raised many pups and had many grandchildren. They escaped several harrowing encounters with bears, mountain lions, and other wolf packs. They were doting parents who played affectionately with their many offspring. 21 was truly intrepid, sometimes leading the Druids in a charge into rival wolf packs even when they were significantly outnumbered. 21 was so fierce and intimidating that he always prevailed. And yet, he was clement: although he would dominate his opponents by pinning them to the ground, 21 usually let them off with their lives if they would submit to 21’s ascendency. In one encounter, 21 finds a grizzly feeding on a recent kill; being much faster and more agile than the bear, he bites the bear on the rear end in order to prompt the bear to chase him. Meanwhile, other members of the Druid pack are able to feed on the carcass as the bear futilely pursues 21.

Most telling though was his relationship with 42. As the author said in an interview:

"I knew 21 better than any animal ever and my impression was that he was never really impressed with himself or that he was the undefeated heavyweight champion. To him it was something he could do. He had no problem that his mate, 42, was the alpha female and the true leader of the pack."

The book concludes with a bittersweet scene. After a very long (by wolf standards) life together with 21, 42 has been missing from the pack for several months. We learn that she was probably killed by other wolves. 21 howls for her and seems preoccupied. He leaves the pack and travels a great distance to return to the place where he and 42 first met. After searching for her scent, he lies down and peacefully dies in his sleep.

Evaluation: McIntyre clearly loves his subjects. He is greatly impressed by their dauntlessness and endurance, but he recognizes that not all wolves are as virtuous as 21. Unfortunately, the narrative sometimes becomes somewhat repetitive and difficult to follow because so many of the wolves have merely numbers instead of names or distinguishing characteristics. Nonetheless, he is quite effective in eliciting sympathy and affection for Wolves 21 and 42. I think at the conclusion of the book most readers will have achieved a more nuanced understanding of these implacable predators and will value the opportunity to have gotten to know 21 and 42.

(JAB) ( )

DISCLAIMER -- I received an uncorrected proof as a giveaway.

This book is number two in the Saga of Yellowstone's Legendary Druid Pack. I had not read the first book, THE RISE OF WOLF 8 -- even though it would have provided some details to the story -- it was not necessary to enjoy this story which provides enough backdrop to keep the story flowing. There is also a third story in the series, REDEMPTION OF WOLF 302, which I would also like to read.

The author, Rick McIntyre, is a dedicated wolf observer (four years of everyday observation adding up to 1,461 days in a row). He writes incredibly detailed accounts of wolf behavior and the social dynamics within and between Yellowstone wolf packs.

The story is about wolf 21 and his life mate 42 and all the wolves that interact with them and their pack during the time period of 2000 - 2004. At the height of the Druid Pack, there were thirty-eight wolves, the largest wolf pack ever documented. The wolves are identified by numbers according to what radio tracking device is on their collar. If there is a wolf that is prominent in the pack without a radio collar it is given a name based on some distinct marking pattern.

The story is more like detailed journal entries because the pace is fast and a large time span can be covered in one chapter. Keeps the story flowing fast but there a few times that he pauses to share more details about specific events or wolf personalities. Or you might see it a more a lecture that includes timelines that include stories and lessons. I think it bogged down a little with tracking the bloodlines of the wolves....almost like in the Bible when you get to the section where so and so begat so and so who begat so and so. Near the end I there were so many that I just quit trying to keep up who is who and just read the main story.

The maps were very cool and added lots to the content of the story as you could see the visual shift of the pack.

Several times the author makes the observation about the way 21 and 42 run the pack and how they had great leadership skills that were more supportive and respective of all members of the pack. I love the examples given on page 99 on how 21 interacted with 224 and 253.-- "That image of a father wolf risking his life to protect his mate and family forever defined the character of 21 for me." (p83)

The story is also about reintroducing the wolves to the Yellowstone area. The program goes above and beyond to make sure that wolves and humans do not interact because that causes problems for both groups -- sort of like the Prime Directive in Star Trek. The only time I remember them actually being proactive is when the pups are getting to comfortable around the roads so they yell or blow loud horns to make them more wary to venture on or toward the road. Another incidence was when they stopped traffic as far away as possible so that the wolves could cross the road in safety when moving from one area to another.

But while keeping the wolves and humans apart is a priority -- it is also a major task for them to educate humans about wolves and do reeducate when there is misinformation. There are many incidences where humans are brought in (not too close) to observe the wolves in their natural habitat and to have the chance to ask questions and learn. There were several occasions when this happened with the Native peoples and it was explained that this was the first time their generation had seen actual wolves that their ancestors had so much lives and learned from.

Through this whole story you get more connected to the wolves especially 21 and 42 because of their dedication to each other over their whole lifetime. The other wolf that grabbed my heart and interest was the wolf that became disabled when he continued to hurt his paws but was still an active and useful member of the pack.

Unfortunately, my uncorrected proof didn't have any of the photos mentioned.

Suggested for any nature lovers, animal lovers, and biography lovers. ( )

For Wolf 21 and Wolf 42, it was love at first sight. Unfortunately, Wolf 42's dominant sister stood in the way. After alliances within the pack changed, Wolf 42 was able to oust her sister as alpha female and true love prevailed. Together Wolf 21 and Wolf 42 became the leaders of Yellowstone's most successful wolf pack, the Druids. This is the true story of their partnership and legacy, but it's not for the feint of heart. This page turner is filled with drama and carnage as well as tender moments and compassion.

The Bottom Line: Part science, part natural history, and part love story, this book includes detailed observations, maps of pack territories, and charts of pack members. The only thing missing were photographs. Highly recommended for fans of brilliant science writing and natural history.

While this is the follow up to McIntyre's earlier book, The Rise of Wolf 8: Witnessing the Triumph of Yellowstone's Underdog, it is not necessary to read the books in order as there is ample information in this installment. ( )