Rspb Spotlight Otters

Author : Nicola Chester
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472943694
Total Pages : 130 pages
Book Rating : 4.99/5 ( download)

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Download or read book RSPB Spotlight: Otters written by Nicola Chester and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-07-28 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Otters by Nicola Chester is an accessible and lively account of an intriguing and much-loved animal that, surprisingly, is still endangered and rarely seen despite a recent resurgence that has seen it expand from the remote countryside into our cities. Nicola's charming, informed text brings this elusive and exciting mammal into sharper focus revealing what an otter is, and how they live, feed, play and breed. Nicola reflects on how otters exist in our imaginations culturally and how that has changed over the years. She also examines the many challenges otters have faced, exposing what brought them to the brink of extinction, and explores the challenges we face in trying to find and watch otters in the wild. Each Spotlight title is carefully designed to introduce readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite birds and mammals.

Author : Hans Kruuk
Publisher : OUP Oxford
ISBN 13 : 0191513725
Total Pages : 278 pages
Book Rating : 4.25/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Otters written by Hans Kruuk and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2006-08-17 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Otters are highly charismatic and popular animals of very considerable concern to conservationists worldwide. Written by the pre-eminent authority in the field, this book builds on the reputation of the author's landmark monograph of the European otter, Wild Otters (OUP, 1995). Furthermore, its broader scope to include all species of otter in North America as well as Europe and elsewhere leads to a deeper synthesis that greatly expands the book's overall relevance and potential readership. Aimed at naturalists, scientists and conservationists, its personal style and generously illustrated text will appeal to amateurs and professionals alike. It emphasises recent research and conservation management initiatives for all 13 species of otter worldwide, incorporates recent molecular research on taxonomy and population genetics, and discusses the wider implications of otter studies for ecology and conservation biology. As well as enchanting direct observations of the animals, there is guidance about how and where to watch and study them. From otters in the British and American lakes and rivers, to sea otters in the Pacific Ocean, giant otters in the Amazon and other species in Africa and Asia, this book provides an engaging approach to their fascinating existence, to the science needed to understand it, and to the very real threats to their survival.

Author : Frances Dipper
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472971612
Total Pages : 226 pages
Book Rating : 4.16/5 ( download)

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Download or read book RSPB Spotlight Seals written by Frances Dipper and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-03-18 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seals are the sleekest and most agile of all marine mammals, and they are superbly adapted to the watery world in which they spend most of their time. With their whiskery dog-like faces, curious nature and vulnerable pups, they are enduringly appealing animals. Although air-breathing, seals are superbly tuned to hunt, sleep, mate and keep warm while out at sea, but they remain inextricably linked to land. In Spotlight Seals, Frances Dipper explores the intricate lives of the UK's native Grey and Common Seals and their amazing physical and behavioural adaptations to a life split between land and sea. She reveals the complex physiology that allows seals to dive deep and for long periods without coming to any harm. Once exploited for their meat and skins, seals now have protection around the British Isles. Their numbers are increasing, but they still face the danger of plastic litter in their environment. Dipper also explores age-old legends, interactions between humans and seals, and the best places to watch them in the UK. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photographs and informative expert text.

Author : James Lowen
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472921828
Total Pages : 128 pages
Book Rating : 4.26/5 ( download)

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Download or read book RSPB Spotlight: Badgers written by James Lowen and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-06-16 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Badgers are elusive wanderers of the night and few mammals are as mysterious. Their nocturnal lifestyle meansnot many of us have ever glimpsed their monochrome form as they sniff and bustle their way through woodland or across pasture – yet most of us live far closer to a Badger group than we might think. In Spotlight: Badgers James Lowen explores all aspects of their lives including their communal living, feeding habits, as well as the major threats to and conservation support for Badgers. These iconic omnivores are widely represented in folklore and have permeated our popular culture. Generations of children have been entranced by Badger in Kenneth Grahame's book Wind in the Willows, however these determined yet mostly peaceful animals have also been loathed and persecuted for centuries. Badger baiting is thankfully now illegal, but the legal badger cull introduced in 2011 in parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset remains in place following the 2015 general election. With so much politics surrounding Badgers in the UK, it's not easy to get unbiassed information. In RSPB Spotlight: Badgers James Lowen keeps a neutral tone on the debate about Badger culling. He describes the history, from the first Badger found to be infected with bTB in 1972 and the subsequent gassing of setts from 1975 to 1982. He also outlines the RSPB's stance on the Badger cull. As one of the UK's largest landowners, the RSPB oppose Badger culling on their land, in favour of vaccination, cattle testing, bio-security and movement controls. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviours of our favourite animals with eye-catching, colour photography and informative expert text.

Author : Mike Unwin
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472943716
Total Pages : 130 pages
Book Rating : 4.12/5 ( download)

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Download or read book RSPB Spotlight: Eagles written by Mike Unwin and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-07-28 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eagles are among the most impressive hunters of the animal world. Their predatory prowess and flying skills have imbued them with a romance and mystique that runs deep in our culture and has elevated them to emblems of freedom and power across the globe. At the same time, however, people have long seen eagles as competitors. Reviled by farmers and gamekeepers as snatchers of livestock, many species have been driven into decline by persecution and disturbance. Two species of eagle occur in Britain - among 60 worldwide - and are the focus of this book. The regal Golden Eagle is the definitive 'true' eagle and occurs in wilderness areas across the northern hemisphere; the even larger White-tailed Eagle, reintroduced to the UK after historic extinction, belongs to the separate 'sea eagles' genus. These two spectacular birds are both very rare – confined largely to the remote Scottish Highlands – and a sighting of either is one of the UK's most exciting and sought-after wildlife experiences. This highly readable study looks separately at both UK eagles, exploring how each is adapted as an apex predator in its own environment, and explores the relationship between the two. Separate chapters cover all aspects of the birds' biology and lifestyle, from defending their vast territories to raising their young. Fascinating secrets are revealed, including the brutal truth behind 'Cain and Abel' syndrome. The book also takes a look at other eagles around the world, placing the two UK species within this broader context. Finally, it examines the complex relationship that humans have enjoyed with eagles since time immemorial, spanning both culture and conservation, and offers expert tips on where and how you can watch these magnificent birds for yourself. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviours of our favourite animals with eye-catching, colour photography and informative expert text.

Author : Todd McLeish
Publisher : Sasquatch Books
ISBN 13 : 1632171384
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.82/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Return of the Sea Otter written by Todd McLeish and published by Sasquatch Books. This book was released on 2018-03-20 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A science journalist's journey along the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska to track the status, health, habits, personality, and viability of sea otters--the appealing species unique to this coastline that was hunted to near extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries. These adorable, furry marine mammals--often seen floating on their backs holding hands--reveal the health of the coastal ecosystem along the Pacific Ocean. Once hunted for their prized fur during the 1700s and 1800s, these animals nearly went extinct. Only now, nearly a century after hunting ceased, are populations showing stable growth in some places. Sea otters are a keystone species in coastal areas, feeding on sea urchins, clams, crab, and other crustaceans. When they are present, kelp beds are thick and healthy, providing homes for an array of sealife. When otters disappear, sea urchins take over, and the kelp disappears along with all of the creatures that live in the beds. Now, thanks to their protected status, sea otters are making a comeback in California, Washington, and Alaska.

Author : Jules Howard
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472971671
Total Pages : 128 pages
Book Rating : 4.78/5 ( download)

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Download or read book RSPB Spotlight Snakes written by Jules Howard and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2020-05-28 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Snakes are superbly secretive reptiles, celebrated by many for their highly tuned senses and their complex and mysterious seasonal behaviours. Though some people may be fearful of them, these important reptiles play a crucial role in many habitats. And an encounter with any one of our native snake species is an experience worth cherishing. In Spotlight Snakes, Jules Howard takes readers on a journey through the ecology and lifestyle of Britain's three native snake species: the Barred Grass Snake, the Smooth Snake and our only venomous snake species, the Adder. As well as uncovering their unique hunting styles and courtship rituals, he delves into the myths and legends at the heart of humankind's widespread and sometimes troublesome fascination with these animals. He also charts the conservation challenges our native snakes face in the modern age and explores the solutions conservationists are employing to help these extraordinary predators remain a vital part of British ecosystems for generations to come. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photographs and informative expert text.

Author : Laurie Campbell
Publisher : Birlinn Limited
ISBN 13 : 9781780272061
Total Pages : 128 pages
Book Rating : 4.65/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Otters written by Laurie Campbell and published by Birlinn Limited. This book was released on 2014 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a celebration of the return of the otter to our rivers and freshwater wetlands after a drastic decline in the last century. For more than two decades, award-winning photographer Laurie Campbell has documented these lithe, elusive predators on the River Tweed and its tributaries near his Berwickshire home. The resulting photographs create an intimate portrait of their lives through the changing seasons, including their riverside habitat and the other wildlife that shares it. Writer Anna Levin sets this work in the context of Laurie's own life's story as she accompanies him to the riverbank. Her notebooks offer a vivid glimpse of the photographer at work and of the otters that enchant them both. This beautiful book is lavishly illustrated throughout, divided into seasonal chapters and charts Laurie's personal quest to capture these endearing creatures in their natural habitat. It also offers an insight into Laurie's philosophy - to look closer to home, rather than further away to connect with our own natural environment.

Author : Simon Cooper
Publisher : HarperCollins UK
ISBN 13 : 0008189722
Total Pages : 288 pages
Book Rating : 4.23/5 ( download)

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Download or read book The Otters’ Tale written by Simon Cooper and published by HarperCollins UK. This book was released on 2017-03-23 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Shortlisted for THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2017 ‘The best popular account of the lives of otters written so far’ Richard Shelton, Times Literary Supplement

Author : Daniel Heath Justice
Publisher : Reaktion Books
ISBN 13 : 1780233833
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.33/5 ( download)

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Download or read book Badger written by Daniel Heath Justice and published by Reaktion Books. This book was released on 2014-10-15 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fierce, menacing, and mysterious, badgers have fascinated humans as living animals, abstract symbols, or commercial resources for thousands of years—often to their detriment. With their reputation for determined self-defense, they have been brutalized by hunters and sportsmen, while their association with the mythic underworld has made them idealized symbols of earth-based wisdom and their burrowing habits have resulted in their widespread persecution as pests. In this highly illustrated book, Daniel Heath Justice provides the first global cultural history of the badger in over thirty years. From the iconic European badger and its North American kin to the African honey badger and Southeast Asian hog badger, Justice considers the badger’s evolution and widespread distribution alongside its current, often-imperiled status throughout the world. He travels from natural history and life in the wild to the folklore, legends, and spiritual beliefs that badgers continue to inspire, while also exploring their representation and exploitation in industry, religion, and the arts. Tracing the complex and contradictory ways in which this fascinating animal endures, Badger will appeal to anyone interested in a deeper understanding of these much-maligned creatures.