Feral! The very word has disturbing, even frightening connotations. The reality of the situation, the rapid increase in our country's population of feral animals-tame animals gone wild-is equally disturbing and potentially dangerous.
Laurence Pringle, who has been called "the acknowledged master at getting across complicated scientific concepts and the politics of environmental issues to older children" by Environmental Action, here examines the many complex factors involved in this tragic situation. He presents the history of America's most common feral animals (birds, pigs, dogs, cats, burros and horses) and the impact they have on people, livestock, food crops, native wildlife and the ecology, and he explores the growing, highly emotional controversy surrounding them involving environmental, humane, political and economic issues.
Laurence Pringle is one of the most widely noted authors of books for young people on biological and environmental subjects. Among his critically acclaimed works-over forty to date-are the "Science for Survival" series: Water; Lives at Stake; Nuclear Power; Our Hungry Earth; Energy; Recycling Resources; Pests and People; Ecology; One Earth, Many Peo pie; and The Only Earth We Have.
Many of Mr. Pringle's books have been chosen as ALA Notable Books, as "Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children" by the National Science Teachers Association-Children's Book Council Joint Committee, as "Children's Books of the Year" by the Library of Congress and as Junior Literary Guild selections. In 1978, Mr. Pringle received the National Wildlife Federation's Special Conservation Award, and that same year the U.S. National Section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) included Our Hungry Earth in its International Book Exhibition.
