Rufus

by Rutherford G. Montgomery, Jerome D. Nenninger (Illustrator)

RUFUS is a wildlife story laid in the Rocky Mountains of the West. It is the story of a young bobcat and his struggle to survive in the wilderness. The reader first meets Rufus as a lone, wandering youngster who has just left his mother and now has to depend upon himself for food and shelter. Now that he is out on his own, Rufus begins living his life the only way he knows how, by hunting. He stakes out a territory and becomes a skillful hunter, preferring to make his meals of brush rabbits and fat mice. Rufus, like all other wild animals is forced to obey the laws of the wild that decree that the strong shall survive to maintain the balance of nature. As Rufus grows and matures he has number of exciting adventures including an encounter with a party of hunters and a pack of hounds, a flash flood, the raiding of a sheep camp, an avalanche, a struggle with a porcupine, a narrow excape from a pack of hungry gray wolves, and the search for a mate. Eventually Rufus finds a mate and settles down to the responsibilities of a family. He now must find food for more than just himself. Feeding a family becomes a real struggle as times become difficult when a rabbit plague occurs and forces the bobcat family to exist at the starvation level. Throughout this thrilling story, Mr. Montgomery's observations and descriptions paint an interesting and accurate picture of the habits and traits of a bobcat and his family. RUFUS is a book to be read and enjoyed by nature lovers of all ages.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Rutherford George Montgomery
Also published as Everitt Proctor, Al Avery, Art Elder, A.A. Avery and E.P. Marshall.

Montgomery was born in Straubville, Sargent County, North Dakota, "a true ghost town" as of 2005. to George Y. and Matilda Proctor Montgomery. He studied at Colorado Agricultural College, Western State College of Colorado, and University of Nebraska; taught elementary school in Hot Springs, Wyoming; and from 1917 to 1919 served in the United States Air Corps. During the 1920s, he worked as a teacher and principal at junior and senior high schools in Montrose County, Colorado.

Montgomery married Eunice Opal Kirks in 1930; they had three children. He served Gunnison County, Colorado, as a judge from 1931 to 1936 and as county commissioner from 1932 to 1938, then became a freelance writer.

While still at school, Montgomery began writing stories about the wild animals that lived around his family's farm. He went on to write books about aviation and the people, landscapes and animals of the American West, particularly horses. In all, he wrote more than 100 books.

From 1941 to 1946, Montgomery was a writer for Dick Tracy. He worked as a creative writing teacher 1955–57 and as a scriptwriter for Walt Disney Studios 1958–1962.

From Wikipedia

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is more evenly paced than his other animal narratives. Lots of nature info for the lay person kept me engaged. I really enjoy these childrens books and I think there is something to be gained from a harsh and empathetic attempt at portraying nature, without sacrificing a nice narrative. The bobcat is in a big milieu with other predators prey and their various biological adaptations for the deep wilderness as they feel the intermittent influence of hostile humans and the seasons.The story progesses along rufus' dispersal from his family and his knack at observing and learning until he breeds and raises a family of his own.

[Raylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book from Montgomery