Includes bibliographical references (p. [185]-217) and index.

The big woodpecker that was too picky -- The black-headed bird named Whitehead -- The rat that hid time in its nest -- The earthquake bird and the possum -- The most common bird on earth -- The engineering rodent -- The fall of the big bird -- The wolf that was woman's best friend -- The gentle invader -- Planetary stewardship.

Although people have been altering earth's landscapes to some extent for tens of thousands of years, humankind today is causing massive changes to the planet. Such widespread environmental change is accompanied by accelerating rates of species extinction. In this book, noted ecologist H. H. Shugart presents important ecological concepts through entertaining animal parables. He tells the stories of particular birds and mammals - the packrat, ivory-billed woodpecker, penguin, dingo, European rabbit, and others. Shugart explores past environmental change, discusses the non-existence of a "balance of Nature", and documents how human alterations have affected plants, soils, and animals. He looks with hope toward a future in which thoughtful people learn and use ecological science to protect the landscapes upon which terrestrial creatures depend.