Alaska's Predators (Paperback)

A look into the world of 22 fierce and often misunderstood predators inhabiting Alaska. Predators are charismatic animals that most people find fascinating and repellent in equal measure. Visitors to Alaska are mesmerized witnessing a bear or wolf moving across the tundra in search of its next meal, or watching salmon sharks leaping out of the water in pursuit of prey. Seeing a bald eagle swoop down to snatch an unsuspecting fish from the water fascinates onlookers, awed and impressed by this raptor's flight and sight capabilities. Alaska's Predators helps readers gain an understanding of these magnificent animals, their function in Alaska's ecosystems, and how and why they should be protected.

Bruce Wright earned a master's degree in ecology studying birds of prey at San Diego State University, and became a professor at the University of Alaska where he taught courses about bald eagles, orcas, humpback whales, and brown, black and polar bears. He was also the president of the board of directors of the Bald Eagle Research Institute. When Bruce was a section chief for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), he continued his work with predators in Alaska by managing the Alaska Predator Ecosystem Experiment and the Alaska Shark Assessment Project. He was actually bitten by one of the 350-pound sharks his crew landed during the field research. Bruce was selected as the chief science advisor to Alaska's Governor Tony Knowles when the governor worked with the Pew Ocean Commission on ocean's issues. Bruce is currently the executive director of the Conservation Science Institute, www.conservationinstitute.org.