Describes the physical characteristics and habits of the North American pronghorn antelope and discusses its adaptation to a prairie environment and the effects of civilization on its well-being.

Join Professor Valerius Geist and photography Michael Francis as they salute the pronghorn antelope, the little brother of the American bison. This swift, smart, beautiful animal is the last survivor of North America's original large mammals. &break;&break;Val Geist of Calgary tells the fascinating story of the pronghorn, which has preserved through harsh and constant threats. If the pronghorn had not survived, the Great Plains today would be without a plains-adapted big-game animal. &break;&break;Geist's extensive biological and archaeological knowledge offers a unique, awe-inspiring look at the magnificent animal. Geist's story-telling ability captures all the science, history and beauty the pronghorn has to offer. &break;&break;More than 100 of Francis' colorful images captures the allure of the prairie and the heart of pronghorn country. Travel west with Geist and Francis. You'll soon understand why so many volunteers worked so hard to keep the prairies a place where the pronghorn can thrive and enthrall.

America's Great Plains once possessed one of the grandest wildlife spectacles of the world, equaled only by such places as the Serengeti, the Masai Mara, or the veld of South Africa. Pronghorn antelope, gray wolves, bison, coyotes, wild horses, and grizzly bears: less than two hundred years ago these creatures existed in such abundance that John James Audubon was moved to write, "it is impossible to describe or even conceive the vast multitudes of these animals." In a work that is at once a lyrical evocation of that lost splendor and a detailed natural history of these charismatic species of the historic Great Plains, veteran naturalist and outdoorsman Dan Flores draws a vivid portrait of each of these animals in their glory—and tells the harrowing story of what happened to them at the hands of market hunters and ranchers and ultimately a federal killing program in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Great Plains with its wildlife intact dazzled Americans and Europeans alike, prompting numerous literary tributes. American Serengeti takes its place alongside these celebratory works, showing us the grazers and predators of the plains against the vast opalescent distances, the blue mountains shimmering on the horizon, the great rippling tracts of yellowed grasslands. Far from the empty "flyover country" of recent times, this landscape is alive with a complex ecology at least 20,000 years old—a continental patrimony whose wonders may not be entirely lost, as recent efforts hold out hope of partial restoration of these historic species. Written by an author who has done breakthrough work on the histories of several of these animals—including bison, wild horses, and coyotes—American Serengeti is as rigorous in its research as it is intimate in its sense of wonder—the most deeply informed, closely observed view we have of the Great Plains' wild heritage.

During his first year of life on the Great Plains, a pronghorn learns from his mother the techniques of survival.

North America’s fastest mammal, the pronghorn can accelerate explosively from a standing start to a top speed of 60 miles per hour—but it can also cruise at 45 miles per hour for many miles. What accounts for the speed of this extraordinary animal, a denizen of the American outback, and what can be observed of this creature’s way of life? And what is it like to be a field biologist dedicating twenty years to studying this species? In Built for Speed, John A. Byers answers these questions as he draws an intimate portrait of the most charismatic resident of the American Great Plains. The National Bison Range in western Montana, established in 1908 to snatch bison from the brink of extinction, also inadvertently rescued the largest known remnant of Palouse Prairie. It is within this grassland habitat—home to meadowlarks, rattlesnakes, bighorn sheep, coyotes, elk, snipe, and a panoply of wildflowers—that Byers observes the pronghorn’s life from birth to death (a life often as brief as four days, sometimes as long as fifteen years) and from season to season. Readers will also experience the vicarious pleasures of a biologist who is eager to race a pronghorn in his truck, scrutinize bison dung through binoculars, and peer through the gathering dusk of a rainy evening to count the display dives of snipe. A vivid and memorable tale of a first-rate scientist’s twenty-year encounter with a magnificent animal, the story of the pronghorn is also a reminder of the crucial role we can play in preserving the fleeting life of the native American grassland.

Ive always observed my surroundings since I was a boy. I noticed the wonders with a true sense of joy. For some reason I remember much from the past. Who would guess such memories would last. Theres natural beauty wherever you go. The most impressive are the parks I know. I remember my engineering education plus what Ive read. Science is wonderful. This has to be said. I think of all the progress humans have made. Weve just started. Can we make the grade? This book follows the popular Huckleberry Days The authors poetic presentation of the good old ways, A Sampler of Uncommon Sense and Good Times, Emotional Trips, Whimsy and More in Rhymes, World War II, to the Greatest Generation A Poetic History of the Wars Duration, And Emotional Poems, How We Live and How We Die. Some Will Make You Think, Others Will Make You Cry. All are available. Barnes and Noble is an ordering source. One can also Google Amazon.com of course.

One of the fastest land animals on Earth (second only to the cheetah), the pronghorn can reach speeds of more than 50 miles per hour. It also is one of the most fascinating of all animals. For many people, the pronghorn was nearly as much a symbol of the American West as was the bison; for some, it still is. Eliminated from much of its historic range by the early 1900s, this unique North American big game species has experienced a remarkable recovery and now is found throughout the western United States, Canada, and northern Mexico. Thirty years in the making, Pronghorn: Ecology and Management contains the most comprehensive information on the behavior, physiology, migration, taxonomy, and management of this extraordinary animal. Full chapters are devoted to distribution, nutrition and food, diseases and parasites, ecosystem management, hunting, and much more. The principal authors--the world's preeminent pronghorn biologists, Bart W. O'Gara and Jim D. Yoakum--conclude with a thorough discussion of the future of pronghorn and their management. With 23 chapters that include contributions by 10 other wildlife professionals and more than 850 illustrations, including original artwork by Edson Fichter and Daniel P. Metz, Pronghorn: Ecology and Management is the definitive work on the species. A Wildlife Management Institute Book

Delve below the Earth, soar beyond the heavens and scour every corner of the planet to discover wonders far greater in number than the world's Big Seven -- and just as astounding. A riveting read for weird science buffs of all ages and an ideal way for parents and kids to share the thrills of learning, 1000 "Wonders of Nature" spotlights incredible animals, formidable forces of weather and mysterious occurrences -- and clearly explains the facts of science behind them all. Filled with 1,300 up-close and astounding full-color photos of the most intriguing living creatures and impressive natural spectacles. Chapters highlight: -- Nature's Great Events, from the self-healing secrets of Peruvian parrots to the underwater fireworks sparked by spawning corals -- Amazing Animals, from lizards that walk on water to fish that spend the night in slimy "sleeping bags" to birds that feast on blood -- Microscopic Marvels, from destructive plant viruses that hitch rides with insects to friendly fungi that supply trees with essential minerals -- Heavenly Amazements, from diamond showers that fall from the sun to comets, quasars and blue moons -- Forces of Nature, from the world's tallest waterfall to horrific hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes and volatile volcanoes

Drawing on insights from philosophy, ethics, law and biology, a naturalist and philosopher advocates on behalf of biodiversity, addressing urgent questions about the destruction of species, and provides a new framework for appreciating and defending every form of life.