Key To The Mammals Of Montana

"Given its wide range, this book should attract readers of history and lovers of the American West in addition to dinosaur junkies. " - Publishers Weekly Hell Creek, Montana, is one of the most windswept, hardscrabble locales in the American West-a quiet town of ranchers, farmers, and others who seek the beauty of the open spaces. It is also the unlikely setting of some of the most fascinating events in the history of the United States and North America. From the first-ever discovery of a Tyrannosaurus rex to Lewis and Clark's landmark expedition; from the Freeman compound standoff to Sitting Bull and Little Big Horn, Hell Creek has been a central player in the events of the last two hundred years-and the last 200 million. Now, with grace and quiet wit, renowned paleontologist and writer Lowell Dingus takes us on a tour of this desolate, beautiful, out-of-the-way place and illuminates its inhabitants, geology, paleontology, and surprising place in history. Nature lovers, dinosaur buffs, and people fascinated with the turbulent history--both ancient and modern--of the American West will find much to delight them in this journey to Hell Creek.

This comprehensive guide details the taxonomy, ecology, behavior, reproductive biology, and distribution of all 109 mammal species in Montana, from the pygmy shrew, one of the tiniest mammals in the world, to the bison, the largest land mammal in North America. Whether you want to distinguish between the 15 species of bats that live in or migrate through the state or are simply trying to identify the squirrel in your backyard, Mammals of Montana is for you. This second edition contains more than 500 color photographs, many by renowned wildlife photographer Alex Badyaev. Scattered throughout the species descriptions are interesting and curious facts about these wild creatures. Learn which shrew is venomous, how the pika survives winter in its alpine habitat without hibernating, and what animal squeezes through vole tunnels in search of dinner. Author Kerry Foresman also covers the reintroduction efforts to save Montana species, such as the black-footed ferret and swift fox, from extinction, and he cautions how climate change may push others, such as the northern bog lemming and wolverine, to the brink.

Pocket-sized field guide to wild mammals of the Rockies and Great Basin (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico). Includes a sighting key to identify animals that are seen. Because wild animals are often elusive, the author has also included keys to prints, droppings, skulls and jaws, and other signs animals leave behind, to aid in identification of animals that are not seen. Includes information about biology of each species. Copiously illustrated with drawings of tracks, skulls, scat, and animals, and range maps.