The Sawtooth Wolves

by Jim Dutcher, Richard Ballantine

In The Sawtooth Wolves, the complex and profound dynamics of wolves and the wolf pack are shown as never before. Hundreds of color photos offer a uniquely intimate portrayal of each wolf as an individual. Hierarchy, dominance, submission, play, nurturing, bonding and communication are revealed in close-up detail.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Animals, Wolves, Biology, Natural History

191 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1996

About the author

After an award-winning filmmaking career, Jim Dutcher turned his energies to a life-altering focus: the wolf. Armed with a Forest Service permit, he and his wife Jamie lived in a tented camp bordering Idaho’s Sawtooth Wilderness. For six years, they documented the social hierarchy and behavior of the Sawtooth Pack, wolves they bottle-fed as pups. The Dutchers’ extraordinary experiences with what they discovered to be intelligent and compassionate animals led to three Emmy Award-winning documentaries.

Yet with wolves still persecuted by a mostly fearful and misinformed public, the Dutchers knew they needed to do more. In 2005, they founded Living With Wolves. A nonprofit that addresses the complex issues surrounding the historical eradication and Endangered Species reintroduction of wolves, Living With Wolves battles laws that allow the brutal hunting of these beautiful animals.

Reviews

[WolfLover]

The authors of this book lived with a pack of habituated wolves in the Sawtooth Mountains, filming them for documentary programmes. The book consists mostly of photos they took of the wolves, and they’re just gorgeous. Honestly, some of the best wolf pictures I’ve ever seen. If you admire the beauty of wolves you should definitely buy this book.

[Lone Wolf]

Authors Jim and Jamie Dutcher spent some years raising and living with a wolf pack – the famous Sawtooth Wolves, subjects of several documentaries. This book is a stunning collection of photographs of these wolves, with minimal text. It’s absolutely beautiful.

[Eliza Mila]

Another fantastic read about the Sawtooth wolves. Some information same from other book while also new insight on how the wolves lived their lives.

[Yune]

Jim Dutcher raised wolf pups, socializing them to human presence, before releasing them into a fenced 25 acres where he could interact with and observe them.

Some truly endearing photographs of the pups. The text is sparse but sufficient for those who don't know much about wolves to learn about pack structure and behavior. I think the concept is most captivating; I kept staring at pictures of the wolves casually nuzzling the humans, or of a paw set against a hand.

[Jose]

Quick read, phenomenal pictures and great cause. Includes small bits of useful information about the wolves and their behavior as well.