Jamie Dutcher

A tad disappointing that I've wanted to read this book for years, and now that I finally got a chance to, I just wasn’t that awestruck. It’s another photograph-heavy coffee-table sized book, companion to The Hidden Life of Wolves. The project it was based on is described in Wolves At Our Door. Having already read those other two books, this one offers very little new or different info. There’s parts that describe (briefly) the filming project, the social structure of the wolf pack, their hunting skills and intense care of the young. There’s very little narrative of actual incidents- but two stand out to my mind in particular: the wolves’ reaction when a raven died, and how they were observed eating flowers (shooting stars) in a field every spring (but nobody was sure why). The photographs really are beautiful and expressive, but also a bit grainy, not with the clarity of focus or printing as nowadays. For it’s time this is a gorgeous book, but I can’t help comparing it to other things I’ve read before that were written since, and it doesn’t stand up as excellent in that regard. All that said, I am holding onto it!… (more)

I am proud to say at one time I supported the Sawtooth Pack and that trying to keep track of them was part of my life. This book was interesting to read and has so many beautiful pictures that I like to reference in my art. Still, it's falling apart now from use and I most likely won't replace it when it goes simply due to it's size. It's a heavy book and not something you can simply sit down with. The CD is OK... the fact the same recording repeats for hours is a bit annoying just since most players can repeat on their own so it's not needed.… (more)

This book was written in a way that made me wish I could have been there to know these magnificent animals for myself. I absolutely loved learning and gaining a better understanding about wolves, not only in a more controlled setting with the Dutchers, but also in seeing glimpses of wolf behaviors in the wild through other's observations and work.

There were so many things I loved experiencing remotely, but I think my favorite had to be when the female wolf, Chemukh, let author Jamie into her den to see her pups. I remember thinking how lucky Jamie was to be so trusted! It felt like this breathtaking moment, and I wasn't even there.

I felt The Wisdom of Wolves was an amazing story that reminded me just how important it is to have an open mind when digging deeper into anything. For me, this book will stay in my heart forever.… (more)