Koda and the Wolves: Tales of a Red Dog

Koda, a golden retriever, was born in a suburb near San Francisco. During his first year he lived like most dogs, in a big backyard with long walks every day. But one day his owner moved to Wyoming outside Yellowstone National Park, the wildest place in the West. Now Koda needed new instincts in order to live with the grizzly bears, elk, and moose walking through his front yard. But his most important lessons were how to live with the wolves that roamed his valley.
 
Koda and the Wolves, a tale told in Koda's voice, is about the unique skills it takes for a dog to live in wolf country. Koda is always drawn to the lives of the wolf pack. He feels an ancient pull to go to them, but for a dog that would be deadly. Wolves do not like other canines in their territory. Over time, Koda learns the travel routes and scents of the local wolf pack. He has close encounters and has to choose between a wild life and a life with his owner.
 
Many concepts are addressed through Koda's eyes:
·      Death of his mentor dog
·      His perception of other animals
·      How scientists study wolf behaviors and their value in the landscape
·      Geography of Yellowstone
·      How human philosophy meshes with the workings of the natural world
·      The tension and beauty of the call of the wild vs. the human bond