The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators

Learn to identify threatening species through tracks, scat, and the damage they leave behind. Fascinating profiles of more than 50 predatory mammals, birds, and reptiles teach farmers, ranchers, homesteaders, and backyard-animal raisers how to prevent their livestock, poultry, and pets from becoming prey. By understanding how predators think and behave, where and how they live, and how they attack and kill prey, you ll be able to interpret the potential threats surrounding your home. Whether you have a vested interest in protecting your pets and livestock or are simply spellbound by wild predators, this is the book for you!

“"Suburban homeowners know if a skunk has visited their property but may not be aware of what attracted this predator. A farmer may discover the corpse of a lamb, a scattering of feathers, or an empty, licked-out egg shell and wonder if a hawk, fox, or something else was responsible. Dohner ( Farm Dogs; Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds ) has some answers. Full-color photographs depict the many predators of North America and Canada, and illustrations of paw prints and scat provide more information for identifying an unseen animal. Edifying entries describe the creatures and suggest measures to discourage them from showing up on one's property. The exhaustive descriptions make it easy to identify the predators, and an extensive section on nonlethal control methods encourages coexistence rather than extermination. The appendix includes websites and an index organized by predator name, identifying the damage the animal is capable of. VERDICT Useful for farmers and homeowners researching predator issues, this volume offers plenty of material for general and student audiences." -- Library Journal "Small-farmer Dohner follows up her well-received Farm Dogs (2016) with a volume of equal value not only to farmers and ranchers -- covering such impactful predators as bears, mountain lions, feral swine, and raptors -- but also to city and suburban dwellers bedeviled by the likes of rats, raccoons, crows, and even domestic "roaming" cats and dogs. The book is well organized into animal families (cats, bears, weasels, raccoons, skunks, opossums, rats, domestic and feral animals, birds of prey, true owls, crows, snapping turtles, gators/crocs, and snakes), which are then broken down into more-specific animals (e.g., American crow, common raven, and black-billed magpie under the crow category). Most animal-family entries include a "damage ID" that includes method of kill, paw prints, gait, time of day they hunt, and even a drawing (not photo, thankfully) of their scat." -- Booklist "A thorough book of facts and practical advice on coexisting with troublesome predators. Running throughout is a unifying plea of compassion: These are not mindless enemies to be vanquished, but irreplaceable neighbors to be cherished." -- Will Stolzenburg, author of Heart of a Lion and Where the Wild Things Were”

"Suburban homeowners know if a skunk has visited their property but may not be aware of what attracted this predator. A farmer may discover the corpse of a lamb, a scattering of feathers, or an empty, licked-out egg shell and wonder if a hawk, fox, or something else was responsible. Dohner (Farm Dogs; Historic and Endangered Livestock and Poultry Breeds) has some answers. Full-color photographs depict the many predators of North America and Canada, and illustrations of paw prints and scat provide more information for identifying an unseen animal. Edifying entries describe the creatures and suggest measures to discourage them from showing up on one's property. The exhaustive descriptions make it easy to identify the predators, and an extensive section on nonlethal control methods encourages coexistence rather than extermination. The appendix includes websites and an index organized by predator name, identifying the damage the animal is capable of. VERDICT Useful for farmers and homeowners researching predator issues, this volume offers plenty of material for general and student audiences." -- Library Journal

"Small-farmer Dohner follows up her well-received Farm Dogs (2016) with a volume of equal value not only to farmers and ranchers -- covering such impactful predators as bears, mountain lions, feral swine, and raptors -- but also to city and suburban dwellers bedeviled by the likes of rats, raccoons, crows, and even domestic "roaming" cats and dogs. The book is well organized into animal families (cats, bears, weasels, raccoons, skunks, opossums, rats, domestic and feral animals, birds of prey, true owls, crows, snapping turtles, gators/crocs, and snakes), which are then broken down into more-specific animals (e.g., American crow, common raven, and black-billed magpie under the crow category). Most animal-family entries include a "damage ID" that includes method of kill, paw prints, gait, time of day they hunt, and even a drawing (not photo, thankfully) of their scat." -- Booklist

"A thorough book of facts and practical advice on coexisting with troublesome predators. Running throughout is a unifying plea of compassion: These are not mindless enemies to be vanquished, but irreplaceable neighbors to be cherished." -- Will Stolzenburg, author of Heart of a Lion and Where the Wild Things Were

Janet Vorwald Dohner is the author of The Encyclopedia of Animal Predators, Farm Dogs, and Livestock Guardians. She has 35 years of experience on her small family farm and has relied on livestock guard dogs and corgis with her sheep, goats, and poultry. She writes for magazines, including Modern Farmer and Mother Earth News, and she gives presentations on livestock guardians and predator control at various conferences. Dohner is a board member of the Kangal Dog Club of America and a member of several learning communities for working dogs.

Know What's Out There Learn to humanely and effectively prevent your livestock, poultry, and pets from becoming prey. Comprehensive profiles of more than 50 animal predators will teach you to identify their habitat, tracks, scat, and attack patterns while offering valuable insights into how these animals think, live, and hunt. Whether you're in the country, suburbs, or city, protect what you love through a genuine understanding of the animal predators around you.

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