Book: Wild Again

Once thought extinct, and still one of North America’s rarest mammals, the black-footed ferret exemplifies the ecological, social, and political challenges of conservation in the West. David Jachowski’s Wild Again: The Struggle to Save the Black-Footed Ferret (University of California Press, $35), is an engaging story that combines an intricate look at this fascinating creature with a broad view of conservation ethics that emerged on the Great Plains during its recovery. Jachowski draws on more than a decade of experience working to save the ferret, and his personal perspective and informative narration reveal both the scientific and human aspects of conservation, and the infinite dedication required to protect a species on the edge of extinction.