The Custer Wolf: Biography of an American Renegade

by Roger A. Caras

1966, hardcover edition, Little Brown, Boston, MA, 175 pages. Magnificent b&w illustrations by Charles Frace. This is a biography of a wolf that ranged near the town of Custer, South Dakota, during the time between 1915 and 1920. He was said to be the most destructive villain of all, and killed the stock of local ranchers. He was hunted down, but much like a phantom, eluded those chasing him.

Genres: Wolves, Fiction

175 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Roger A. Caras was an American wildlife photographer, writer, wildlife preservationist and television personality.

Known as the host of the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Caras was a veteran of network television programs including "Nightline," "ABC News Tonight" and "20/20" before devoting himself to work as president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and to becoming an author.

Reviews

[Joey Beatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a fantastic and mournful story. my sole grievance lies with the author's insistence on referring to some lesser state of consciousness among earth's wild creatures. he consistently asserts an assumption that not only the wolf but various other animals possess an inability to comprehend self-awareness, mortality, compassion, vengeance, woe, etc, unless of course such endowments of emotion are predicated upon an acknowledgement of similarities between animal instinct and human sentiment. he seems too afraid to anthropomorphize without providing some kind of disclaimer. i only wish he would have indulged his obviously natural poetic disposition, which does haunt the text with beautiful intimacy, mysticism, and sense of place, more fully and without the crutch of scientific judgment.

[WolfLover · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seems to be a fictionalised account of a real wolf known as Lobo, a “rogue” who killed many livestock whilst avoiding all attempts to capture or kill him. The wolf in this book is also named Lobo and his story is much the same, but he is white where the real Lobo was grey, and his exploits are more fanciful. The author seems very keen to avoid anthropomorphism, to the point where he goes a little too far the other way, almost suggesting animals are nothing more than automatons driven by instinct.

[Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part fictional illustration of the natural lives of wolves and part nonfiction about a lone wolf who killed at least a thousand or so livestock animals over many years while eluding massive efforts by man to hunt, trap, and poison him.

The words of Ron Swanson’s review of Moby Dick feel right: “No fru-fru symbolism. Just a good, simple tale about a man who hates an animal.”

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the saddest, most beautifully written works I've ever read.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it wasn't what I was expecting, this was an interesting and and enjoyable read.

[Felix · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this right up to about halfway through, though it was a bit boring. Sadly the book ends with the wolf's death by the ranchers.

[Bill Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually dated earlier then the dates provided here. There is no ISBN number provided on the book. The Copyright date is 1966. The book is in hard cover format. The dust cover is in decent shape, though partially torn. It's what I would expect for a book that was printed in 1966 and though well cared for still has some blemishes.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating.

[MarcyPB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was perhaps 13 or 14, then again in my twenties. It holds a very special place in my heart, possibly purely for sentimental reasons.