Santa Claus (read Howard) dropped this little number off on my doorstep this past festive season. He assured me it was a real ‘page turner’ and that he himself had devoured the book in less than 48 hours. I was cautiously optimistic…
Although I’ll dabble in fiction, I’ll be the first to admit that I much prefer reading material that is real and tangible, enlightening and, if possible, taking place in my own backyard. Following the Last Wild Wolves fulfills all of those qualifiers and for that reason, I found this book every bit as engaging as Howard promised and perhaps even more.
Ian McAllister is a Pacific Northwest Super Hero as far as I’m concerned. I admire those that dedicate their very existence to the day-to-day struggle of preserving our wild spaces, such as the Great Bear Rainforest, and the animals that call it home. As former President of the Raincoast Society (to whom Tide Rip is a proud sponsor), and now more recently as founder of Pacific Wild, Ian has spent years exploring and studying coastal British Columbia. This guy knows what he’s talking about. This guy is the real deal.
Following the Last Wild Wolves chronicles Ian’s relative co-existence with these elusive animals and helps readers connect the dots. With a clever juxtaposition between two very different packs, occupying two very different niches (namely terrestrial and marine), Ian demonstrates their adaptability to their environment, testifies on behalf of their perseverance and details the continued stigmas these majestic animals confront in the face of human persecution and habitat loss. He also recognizes that these are some of the same factors that torment our beloved ‘grizzled brethren’ and all the other animals that play roles in the convoluted coastal food web.
Last year, we at Tide Rip were fortunate enough to have observed five wolves during our commutes in to see the bears of Knight Inlet. To see them is something that will no doubt leave you in awe. However, having read this book I have garnered a whole new appreciation and respect for them.
If you get a chance, make sure you pick up a copy of Ian’s book. I promise you won’t be disappointed. And perhaps the best thing of all is that all proceeds from the book help fund Pacific Wild’s initiatives to save them.
