For more than 40 years this guide has remained the best introduction to wildlife in Denali National Park and Preserve. Written by renowned naturalist Adolph Murie, the book starts out with his strong ideals of wilderness and what it means to have a place where animals can enjoy a natural and normal life without human restrictions. He also offers readers a glimpse of the Denali region and what to expect along the rivers, taiga and tundra, and what the landscape looks like in different seasons.

Each of the 34 mammal species in the book includes a close-up, full-color photo with all the information animal-lovers seek--but there is more. Here, readers will find Murie's own observations from years of study offered in such a way that you feel as if you are reading his personal journals. Insider tips on behavior, where to find them, and what it feels like to observe these animals in the wild are written in beautiful prose rather than as a list of facts.

Adolph Murie was a naturalist who conducted a landmark study of wolves, sheep and predator/prey relationships in the park from 1939-41. His approach to wildlife management took into account entire ecosystems, rather than focusing on a single animal as others did. He served as park biologist from 1939 until the 1970s, and during that time wrote The Mammals of Mount McKinley, the original title of this book. The book was the very first publication for Alaska Geographic, then known as the Mount McKinley Natural History Association. The photos are new and full-color, but the text is all Murie.