I realize this is not the normal type of book spotlighted on this blog. However, many of the readers of this blog write novels that involve animals. This book talks about how we as humans decide something is a pest and our attempts to then exterminate it. Mice, rats, wolves, and bears are some of the animals mentioned, all of which were dreaded by the pioneers.
I really enjoyed the different chapters on animals as different as rats and mice and elephants. I learned a lot about the animals discussed and how being considered a pest affects an animal's prospects.
The author also has a chapter on "reformed pests" such as wolves and bears. She discusses how the reintroduction of wolves has affected ranchers and people who live with them versus people who romanticize wolves but don't live with them.
The last chapter talks about how to live with animals as much as possible instead of killing them. It brings in the Indigenous viewpoints on predators versus the Western attitude.
If you want to learn how various animal/human conflicts started and where they stand now, this is a good resource.
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