He points out that lions have been spotted in numerous cities throughout the United States. He discusses how the lions' behavior has changed as Man's behavior towards lions has changed. In the days when humans were the lions' worst nightmare, the lions were justifiably fearful of humans, avoiding them at all costs. However, the lions have figured out that humans are not generally much of a threat to them. In fact, humans tend to keep animals in confined spaces that make them easy pickings.

The author talks about how, in much of the 20th century, Man systematically exterminated tens of thousands of mountain lions (along with wolves and coyotes), resulting in an enormous increase in the population of deer. He stresses the fact that mountain lions, which are strictly carnivorous and will eat just about anything, vastly prefer deer to any other animal. Where there are deer, there are mountain lions.

I live in an area where I see deer every day. Many people in this area feed the deer, which is not only illegal, but it is harmful to the deer (reportedly contributes to chronic wasting disease & fosters dependency on human-provided food). Since the mountain lions are smart, observant, and efficient predators, they tend to notice where the deer hang out on a regular basis.

In a town about 15 miles from where I live, a mountain lion killed two dogs and a colt about a month ago. Just as in this book, the authorities didn't publicize this information. Maybe they assume we're incapable of good judgement and will form mobs of bloodthirsty lion hunters. Or perhaps they're fearful of frightening potential tourists. Or they adhere to the "ignorance is bliss" theory. We are in the process of providing an enclosure for our dogs that is covered on all sides to help protect them from the local predators (raptors, coyotes, and mountain lions).

When the lions become habituated to the presence of humans, they can become extremely dangerous, and we need to alter our own behavior and habits in order to protect ourselves, our children, and our pets. Although we have a higher risk of being hit by lightning than being attacked by a mountain lion, still it's good to be aware of the potential for risk when on a hiking trail or biking in an area frequented by lions.

I found the book extremely interesting and informative and highly recommend it to anyone. However, if you live where there are deer, especially if you have pets and want to be better informed about your surroundings, you would benefit by reading this book.


Great Book   May 18, 2004
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

I found this book to be a very lucid account of how Man and the Cougar have changed over the past 100 years. Baron gives the best argument I've come across to explain the growing number of attacks by Cougars on humans.
Human developement, but more so the change in our feelings towards wildlife has created a new ecotone that has allowed the Cougars numbers increase and to lose "respect" for humans. For the last 34 years Cougars have not been hunted in Calif. and I belive that this has caused cats to lose there fear of both man and dogs. Great book well worth the time and money.


A must read.   February 20, 2004
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Wildlife protection and urban infringement have changed man's relationship with nature. Today, no area is safe as habituated animals adapt to city life. Mr. Baron does an outstanding job of explaining our association with wildlife, and provides a startling glimpse into our future. Entertaining, and informative, I highly recommend this book.


A RIVETING TALE OF A 4-LEGGED SERIAL KILLER   January 30, 2004
 17 out of 21 found this review helpful

This book is amazing and riveting in the telling of our encroachment into the territory of wild animals, specifically the cougar, or mountain lion. It is hard to believe that this is the first book by David Baron, because it is everything a book should be: it begins with the heart of the story (the killing of a young runner, probably by a cougar) and then delves into those subjects we never feel we are interested in or can understand, such as science, the natural history of the Wild West, man's insistence on doing what we want, when we want, and living anyplace we choose, and then tells of heart-pounding stalking and serial killer type behavior. Throughout, Baron gives historical retellings of other encounters with mountain lions. The book wraps up as well as this story can be wrapped up, with lose ends flying in the wind as we search for answers to our desire to move into the territory of wild animals. Baron spares no one, including the parents of the young man killed or the Division of Wildlife employees, who in my opinion appear to be worthless.

To compare this story to the book and movie Jaws is right on. However, we have to remember that this is a story about real people and real events and real animals and should be taken seriously since attacks by wild animals on humans seem to be increasing at a high rate. It is amazing to me that some people who had their pet dogs carried off by cougars appear to be more upset than some people whose very lives are affected. To read about these people and their silly ideas and patently absurd notions about moving back to nature is eye-opening. When the west was truly wild, we did not live with these magnificent creatures. We hunted them or stayed out of their way; we did not try to live with them. And we certainly did not think they were cute, cute enough to take their pictures as they lolly-gagged on our patios where our pets and children play.

This book deserves to be a bestseller since it is both a great read and discusses issues of major importance. I hope the publisher and booksellers give this book the attention it so richly deserves. I also hope that Mr. Baron continues with his writing since he has a unique talent of being able to inform without being preachy and at the same time tell a riveting story. It is one of those books that held my attention throughout and that I read slowly so it would not end so quickly. And the ending is fitting to any book about serial killers and the like, which is to say the ending is truly chilling.


Examining ecotones   January 26, 2004
 21 out of 23 found this review helpful

Humanity's interaction with the rest of nature is often a sordid tale. Humans and other animals have long contended for living space, but the North American experience is nearly unique. Our dealings with wild life, plant and animal, have swung from nearly absolute exploitation and extinction to various versions of preserve and protect. Both attitudes have been clouded by ignorance and misunderstanding. David Baron vividly and expertly examines these views. He explains how one community, Boulder, Colorado, has become a model for a new view of coexistence with our fellow creatures. It may have taken the inadvertant sacrifice of one young man to show how our relationship with wilderness must be reconsidered and recast.

Baron's science journalist's skills grant him the role of emissary, crisscrossing the border between the human and cougar communities. He carefully observes the lifestyle of the New West inhabitant. "White, wealthy and progressive" suburban Boulder came to typify a new term in biology - the "ecotone". Ecotones are the interface of humanity and wilderness. Homes at town's edge, open lawns and gardens attracting deer, jogging paths over isolated ridges and remote canyons are a novel environment.

Cougars, once fearful of men, and dogs, followed their usual prey of deer into this zone. In doing so, they adapted to conditions readily. Baron demonstrates the falsity of many myths surrounding the cougar. They are highly adaptive creatures, even possessing a "culture" few humans recognise, let alone understand. They feared the wolf packs encountered in the past, but quickly learned pet dogs are no threat. And cougar mothers taught their cubs Fido could provide a meal. Once thought to follow fixed movement patterns, cougars are now recognized as random patrollers of territory. To humans, this unpredictability poses an unexpected threat. It's led to attacks on people - in Boulder, it led to the death of an eighteen-year-old student.

This captivating account of how awareness of the ecotone emerged is flawless. There are heroes, villians, people whose views are challenged and reactions to new provocations. The hero of this story is not the slaughtered youth, Scott Lancaster, but Michael Sanders, wildlife "manager". Sanders, and colleague Jim Halfpenny, struggled to understand what was happening in the Boulder ecotone. They recorded cougar sightings and activity, trying to formulate a picture of puma behaviour. They anticipated potential threats while appealing to government agencies to assist them in their work - to no avail. Local politics and attitudes intervened. Even a direct attack on a woman failed to budge preconceptions. The result was the sacrifice of a young man on the alter of ignorance and misunderstanding. Baron urges that this sacrifice not be in vain.

His conclusion suggests the ecotone isn't limited to the Colorado mountains. Wolves, racoons, coyotes and even geese are invading marginal habitats at the edge of human settlements. A cougar was struck by a car in Kansas City. Another surprised a strolling couple in Minneapolis. A coyote strode onto a verandah near Boston. Baron doesn't propose a return to bounty hunting. He respects the needs of the rest of the animal kingdom, even predators. What is needed, he urges, is an informed, pragmatic approach to wilderness preservation. With the "outbreak" of humans intruding on much of the planet, new forms of wildlife management must be applied. This will require resources [your tax dollars], study [more students taking up wildlife study] and political will [no simple answers].

Baron romanticises nothing in his narrative. His realistic approach is almost unique in nature writing. Certainly, his championing a new view of how we approach the rest of nature must be heeded. He is clearly aware of the massive education process that must ensue to prevent more killings. He stands almost in a "no-man's land" between those thinking "nature" must remain unblemished and those who urge further exploitation. He takes what is perhaps the most unpopular stance in America today - arguing for further knowledge and understanding before decisions are taken. In these times, one of those decisions is where to place the next new suburban house. Perhaps yours. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]