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On the Trail of Wolves
Wolves fascinate us – they always have and always will – and with her new non-fiction narrative, author and TV presenter Philippa Forrester aims to help us understand the wolf better and learn its real place in modern America to try and gauge its future.
When Philippa and her family relocated to the wilds of Wyoming, the sound of wolves close to their new home fed her lifelong fascination. But as she settled into life in the US, she discovered many residents weren't happy to share their land with wolves.
Philippa listened to what locals have to say and travelled further from home to talk to rangers, conservationists, hunters and ranch owners to try and learn when and why opinions on wolves became so polarised.
It's now more than a decade since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. To many, their reintroduction seemed like a victory. But what does the future hold for wolves in a land where many people resent they were ever there at all? How can ever-increasing human populations learn to live alongside large predators before we end up with a planet devoid of them?
In this captivating non-fiction narrative, Philippa trails wild wolves living within the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem revealing what she learns about these beautiful wild animals from living among them, as she tries to make sense of the lies and rumours that are spread about wolves by those who seek to exterminate them again.
When Philippa and her family relocated to the wilds of Wyoming, the sound of wolves close to their new home fed her lifelong fascination. But as she settled into life in the US, she discovered many residents weren't happy to share their land with wolves.
Philippa listened to what locals have to say and travelled further from home to talk to rangers, conservationists, hunters and ranch owners to try and learn when and why opinions on wolves became so polarised.
It's now more than a decade since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. To many, their reintroduction seemed like a victory. But what does the future hold for wolves in a land where many people resent they were ever there at all? How can ever-increasing human populations learn to live alongside large predators before we end up with a planet devoid of them?
In this captivating non-fiction narrative, Philippa trails wild wolves living within the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem revealing what she learns about these beautiful wild animals from living among them, as she tries to make sense of the lies and rumours that are spread about wolves by those who seek to exterminate them again.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2020
10 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Philippa Forrester
10 books7 followersPhilippa has been a well known TV and radio presenter and producer working primarily for the BBC for many years. She has always had a passion for the natural world and competed a part time degree in Ecology and Conservation while working on TV. She spent seven years living in Jackson hole Wyoming where she remotely completed a masters degree in writing and has continued to write, mainly about the natural world, for both adults and children
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 26, 2023
Lovely book with great descriptions of the wilderness. Lots of insight into human-wolf conflict and management strategies, and an interesting cohort of contributors/interviewees providing breadth of perspective.
October 17, 2020
4.25* Philippa Forrester spent a year in the wilds of Wyoming, trying to understand wolves; or rather, the controversy that surrounds them. She talked to both sides of the debate: biologists and conservationists, ranchers and hunters.
It's a fine reportage-like read with a hint of a personal story. We get to read about 926F aka Spitfire, about the ambassador wolves at Wolf Conservation Center, about the Mexican Wolf captive breeding program, and above all about the wolves of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with a focus on Wyoming. And of course about the people who live in the middle of it all: ranchers who try to coexist with predators, trophy hunters who wouldn't hesitate to take a shot if they saw a wolf trot by, the biologists who track them and those who have to deal with wolf management.
As much as I enjoyed it, though, I do have some issues with the book, and they're mostly technical. For example, the author keeps confusing names. She meets Zephyr, Nikai and Alawa from WCC, but calls Alawa "Atka" - who is a different wolf altogether, and there are even a few pages dedicated to him right after that. Also, the wildlife filmmaker she hears about is Bob Landis, not "Landers"; she actually repeats his name twice in the text and both times wrong. Suffice to say the editing is lousy, and so is the index (wolf 962 confused with wolf 926, etc).
That aside, it's a book I'd totally recommend to anyone interested in wolves.
Spitfire
It's a fine reportage-like read with a hint of a personal story. We get to read about 926F aka Spitfire, about the ambassador wolves at Wolf Conservation Center, about the Mexican Wolf captive breeding program, and above all about the wolves of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with a focus on Wyoming. And of course about the people who live in the middle of it all: ranchers who try to coexist with predators, trophy hunters who wouldn't hesitate to take a shot if they saw a wolf trot by, the biologists who track them and those who have to deal with wolf management.
Zephyr, Alawa and Nikai
As much as I enjoyed it, though, I do have some issues with the book, and they're mostly technical. For example, the author keeps confusing names. She meets Zephyr, Nikai and Alawa from WCC, but calls Alawa "Atka" - who is a different wolf altogether, and there are even a few pages dedicated to him right after that. Also, the wildlife filmmaker she hears about is Bob Landis, not "Landers"; she actually repeats his name twice in the text and both times wrong. Suffice to say the editing is lousy, and so is the index (wolf 962 confused with wolf 926, etc).
That aside, it's a book I'd totally recommend to anyone interested in wolves.
June 22, 2020
I think this book clearly illustrates the author`s passion to discover what wolves are all about. The excitement this animal engenders is clearly illustrated in the very first sentence at the beginning of the prologue, "I hear the wolves while I`m working alone in my snow clad log cabin. I have never heard wild wolves before, but I am in no doubt as to who it is calling, outside in the snowy valley.
I stand on the deck, and wrap my cardigan around me, shivering, both with cold and excitement."
The author then describes the wolves howling again, but this time, closer. A moment later comes a reply from over a forested hill. A single howl. A lonesome wolf?
The author describes the wolves calls as a `wake up` call to herself, " adding fuel to a smouldering fire inside me. They make me realise where my passion lies, where my curiosity ignites;" and so begins a very interesting and exciting journey as the author sets out to discover why it is that people have such diverse opinions and attitudes towards the wolf, taking on an assignment for `National Geographic magazine` for a special one-off edition about Yellowstone National Park to find and photograph wildlife, the most exciting thing as a family they have ever done.
This, also, is one of the most interesting wildlife books I have ever encountered, specifically because it is so well written and has introduced me to a world that I was unaware of. It has prompted me to discover more and read more books on the subject since I cannot investigate for myself.
I stand on the deck, and wrap my cardigan around me, shivering, both with cold and excitement."
The author then describes the wolves howling again, but this time, closer. A moment later comes a reply from over a forested hill. A single howl. A lonesome wolf?
The author describes the wolves calls as a `wake up` call to herself, " adding fuel to a smouldering fire inside me. They make me realise where my passion lies, where my curiosity ignites;" and so begins a very interesting and exciting journey as the author sets out to discover why it is that people have such diverse opinions and attitudes towards the wolf, taking on an assignment for `National Geographic magazine` for a special one-off edition about Yellowstone National Park to find and photograph wildlife, the most exciting thing as a family they have ever done.
This, also, is one of the most interesting wildlife books I have ever encountered, specifically because it is so well written and has introduced me to a world that I was unaware of. It has prompted me to discover more and read more books on the subject since I cannot investigate for myself.
September 8, 2025
this took me far longer to read than it should have, but what a thought-provoking little book!
June 8, 2020
3.5-ish stars
I think I expected too much of this book - I came away feeling disappointed that the author hadn't had (or hadn't included descriptions of) more firsthand encounters with wolves, and the brief detour to a wolf conservation centre in New York didn't interest me. I suppose it's to be expected that if you spend just a year in their domain, you're not actually going to see them much!
On the other hand, I was so glad to read the interviews with pro and anti-wolf Americans - the unfiltered narrative gave me a really valuable insight into the motivations and logic behind different people's views. So for that reason alone, I recommend the book to any budding or seasoned environmentalist.
I think I expected too much of this book - I came away feeling disappointed that the author hadn't had (or hadn't included descriptions of) more firsthand encounters with wolves, and the brief detour to a wolf conservation centre in New York didn't interest me. I suppose it's to be expected that if you spend just a year in their domain, you're not actually going to see them much!
On the other hand, I was so glad to read the interviews with pro and anti-wolf Americans - the unfiltered narrative gave me a really valuable insight into the motivations and logic behind different people's views. So for that reason alone, I recommend the book to any budding or seasoned environmentalist.
June 1, 2020
Absolutely loved this book. Very much a haunting but factual account of the plight of wolves. Yet Forrester is very good at capturing perspectives and opinions from a host of people that creates a clearer understanding and picture of the conflicts and struggles between people,animals and wolves. Objective and very much an honest account although I am still rooting for the wolves. Read very quickly as was absorbed wanting to know more.
May 24, 2020
I really loved this book. The author was fortunate to spend a year in Wyoming studying wolves. Ranchers, hunters, biologists and conservationists all had a story to tell. Add in to this mix, a personal story and it makes this a great read for anyone interested in wildlife. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
January 14, 2021
Philippa has attempted to be well rounded in this book by approaching both sides of the Wolf divide, unfortunately though, no wolf haters seem to want to speak. What I learned from this book is that Wolves are more of an impact to live alongside than I imagined, however I have come away from this book with one obvious conclusion.
The only people that hate Wolves are people that farm cattle and people that want artificially high numbers of prey species so that they can enjoy shooting them for themselves. Wolves are competition. This next point wasnt mentioned by the Author (disappointingly) Basically, if Humanity wasnt eating too much meat and demanding too much land to produce that meat, there would be more wilderness set aside for wolves, less selectively bred & unnaturally stupid cattle breeds filling the countryside and less conflict. Humanity can no longer be priority in a world with declining biodiversity. Wolves are a keystone species that do more good than harm. We cannot keep replacing habitat with Meat & Dairy ranches and wonder why our livestock get killed. Change your diet and stop expecting nature to accommodate unsustainable practices.
The only people that hate Wolves are people that farm cattle and people that want artificially high numbers of prey species so that they can enjoy shooting them for themselves. Wolves are competition. This next point wasnt mentioned by the Author (disappointingly) Basically, if Humanity wasnt eating too much meat and demanding too much land to produce that meat, there would be more wilderness set aside for wolves, less selectively bred & unnaturally stupid cattle breeds filling the countryside and less conflict. Humanity can no longer be priority in a world with declining biodiversity. Wolves are a keystone species that do more good than harm. We cannot keep replacing habitat with Meat & Dairy ranches and wonder why our livestock get killed. Change your diet and stop expecting nature to accommodate unsustainable practices.
February 24, 2021
As a wolf advocate, I am always asked to explain why anyone would hate wolves. It's not an easy answer and I've always wanted to be able to point to a book and say, "Read this and then we can have a fuller discussion." The fact that Ms. Forrester was able to have these conversations in the first place with so many diverse people with opposing views is a credit to her as a story-teller and as a people person. As far as I'm concerned - she totally nailed it. I look forward to reading her other books.
May 1, 2023
I keep telling myself not to buy books by journalists, and this was a reminder. Nothing fundamentally wrong with the book, except it's just a retelling of conversations with people she met, where she moved to about wolves, including, for not good reasons, a whole page of the bible. It's all opinions. The few facts which sneak thru are not challenged or ignored, and the constant talk about the 'need' to manage wolf numbers is never challenged.
The book has a list of other books which are rarely referenced.
No more books written by journalists for me for me from now on....
The book has a list of other books which are rarely referenced.
No more books written by journalists for me for me from now on....
October 19, 2022
An entertaining and informative read. I like the author's style; open and chatty. The intention to learn from those who champion and slate the wolves was met - a balanced dialogue of views is aired in a mostly non-judgmental way. The settings and the encounters with various wildlife are described in an engaging way. I learned a lot and could have read more - sign of a good book is when you reach the acknowledgements and wish there was more book!
February 11, 2024
really insightful look into the lives and opinions of the people who don't just love wolves, or hate wolves, or hunt wolves, but live with wolves. again and again there is the emphasis on seeing wolves as part of the system. plus, forrester's passion for wolves and wildlife is palpable, and it is easy to soar alongside her emotional responses to the people, the animals and the landscapes that they inhabit. i learnt so much, and loved it all.
philippa forrester's really lived the dream. :)
philippa forrester's really lived the dream. :)
May 12, 2024
A real awakening for the author as she (and her family) move to the US and follow a passion for wolves in their wild habitat - understanding their world and the opinions and actions of humans with whom they interact (both friendly and adversarial).
A great read, with superb descriptive writing and investigative reporting.
Really enjoyed this book.
A great read, with superb descriptive writing and investigative reporting.
Really enjoyed this book.
July 19, 2023
Some really thoughtful content, although a little slow in places, I still came away with feeling like I learnt something.
June 15, 2025
Amazing book with great storytelling and insights. Can't wait to read Philippa's new book.
May 5, 2025
Unexpectedly captivating, Forrester’s ‘On the Trail of Wolves’ delves into the intricate conflicts between humans and wolves following their reintroduction to Yellowstone. I initially expected a narrative centred solely on the author’s experiences in Wyoming, but I found myself immersed in journalistic storytelling enriched by interviews and diverse perspectives.
For wildlife enthusiasts, this book offers a compelling exploration of the conservation challenges surrounding wolves in the States. Although its intense focus might not appeal to all readers, the author’s journalistic style prompts reflection and compassion for the complex ecological dynamics that impact people on both sides of the wolf conservation issue.
However, while the majority of the book kept me engaged with its vivid portrayal of wildlife landscapes and human-wolf interactions, the transition to the last quarter felt somewhat abrupt. Forrester’s visit to a New York-based wolf conservation center, while still focusing on wolves, veered away from the immersive wilderness narrative that initially drew me in. This shift left the conclusion feeling lacklustre in comparison to the rest of the book.
For wildlife enthusiasts, this book offers a compelling exploration of the conservation challenges surrounding wolves in the States. Although its intense focus might not appeal to all readers, the author’s journalistic style prompts reflection and compassion for the complex ecological dynamics that impact people on both sides of the wolf conservation issue.
However, while the majority of the book kept me engaged with its vivid portrayal of wildlife landscapes and human-wolf interactions, the transition to the last quarter felt somewhat abrupt. Forrester’s visit to a New York-based wolf conservation center, while still focusing on wolves, veered away from the immersive wilderness narrative that initially drew me in. This shift left the conclusion feeling lacklustre in comparison to the rest of the book.
July 5, 2025
I picked this book because of the title, and I wasn't expecting much simply because I wasn't really interested in wolves. But this book sparked my new obsession of them.
The variety of subjects mentioned here also made it easier for me to read, since I was less likely to be bored. And the willingness to view the human and wolf conflict from both sides was refreshing.
The variety of subjects mentioned here also made it easier for me to read, since I was less likely to be bored. And the willingness to view the human and wolf conflict from both sides was refreshing.
July 23, 2024
Interesting enough, well written, balanced. More of a piece of journalism then a book perhaps, could have done with more about living in Wyoming as well as wolf content- started out that way but quickly became wolves only.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews