Prairie Night: Black-footed Ferrets and the Recovery of Endangered Species

by Brian Miller, Richard P. Reading

An insider's critique of endangered-species policy in action, Prairie Night combines an understanding of the biology and natural history of North America's most endangered mammal with a record of the often controversial decisions on how to save it.

Genres: Nature

254 pages, Hardcover

First published July 17, 1996

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I am interested in how politics, public perceptions, and other human dimensions affect endangered species management. I found this book because it was mentioned in The Ghost with Trembling Wings: Science, Wishful Thinking, and the Search for Lost Species.

Because of the above stated interest, I found Part III to be the most interesting. Part I is a short introduction into the decline of the black-footed ferret (and prairie dogs, on which they are dependent). Part II covers the life history and other particulars of the biology of black-footed ferrets. This section would provide an excellent reference for someone looking for detailed information on the biology of the species, but not all the information has a direct or strong tie in to the conservation of the species. Part III is all about the recovery efforts, the different stakeholders involved, and the conflict between stakeholders. Part III also provides some advice on how to avoid some of the common pitfalls of endangered species management.

Reading this book, I can’t help but see parallels from other books I’ve read on endangered species management (e.g. A Shadow and a Song: The Struggle to Save Endangered Species) and conversations I’ve had with biologists working on endangered species (e.g. Red Wolf, Red-cockaded Woodpecker).