Fuzz: Exploring the Consequences of Nature Breaking the Rules

T in CA: FUZZ was a book club selection chosen by another member. I probably never would have discovered this book without the recommend and I'm glad I did. It was a fun and informing read leaving a person with much food for thought.

United States on Dec 31, 2023

Elizabeth Black: I enjoyed this while traveling. Each chapter stood by itself and was most entertaining and educational. The strong stomach helps with the descriptions of murders and killings…

United States on Dec 29, 2023

#EmptyNestReader: A 5 star book that takes an around-the-world look at the crossroads where humans and animals meet. And when they do meet, the erratic, often unforeseeable, things that happen. ”For most of the past century, your odds of being killed by a cougar were about the same as your odds of being killed by a filing cabinet. Snowplows kill twice as many Canadians as grizzly bears do.” We don’t outlaw snowplows, or filing cabinets. What are we to do about the “wildlife problem”? “The black bear is a ridiculously lovable species. There's a reason kids have teddy bears, not teddy goats or teddy eels.”

Science writer Mary Roach takes a deep dive into the human-animal conundrum. What do we do when grizzly bears are breaking into homes - and refrigerators? Seagulls are uprooting pots of flowers and randomly scattering the floral displays meant or the Pope’s Easter mass? Sacred monkeys terrorize Indian citizens?
“I can’t judge” says Roach. "We all have emotional connections to certain branches of the tree of life, and for some that branch is trees. We are irrational in our species-specific devotions. I know a man who won’t eat octopus because of its intelligence....

United States on Aug 08, 2023

GTnH: Very well written. Many examples of problems humans encounter dealing with nature and how we usually mess it up when we try to solve them.

United States on Jul 07, 2023

Gayle Shaw: Even mediocre Mary Roach is better than most books

Australia on Jan 11, 2023

Amazon Customer: There are a ton of very interesting facts in this book. The best part is that they are presented clearly and with humor. I was drawn in by the author's unique style and stayed for the interest level. Well done!

Canada on Jan 03, 2022

amachinist: In her typical wry manner, Mary Roach addresses a serious topic in her latest book: Can humans and wildlife coexist? Man has continued to encroach on the natural homes of wildlife resulting in not only the destruction of their homes, but also the diminution of their natural food sources. This has been and continues to be a major problem for farmers and ranchers worldwide, but now wildlife also feeds on the garbage that humans create in cities, subburbs and camp sites. Some of this wildlife can be dangerous like hungry black and brown bears in Colorado or free roaming male elephants in India.

Culling of invasive wildlife may actually result in an increase in their population. Use of fungicides, insecticides and pesticides, may kill more than the intended target. Introduction of non-native predators, may upset the natural balance of native species. Erecting "deer crossing" signs does not reduce motor vehilce accidents with white tails, elk and moose on highhways parituclarly when vehicles are traveling 65+ mph. There are ways to adapt vehicles to prevent some of these usually dusk or dawn accidents. Passing legislation for waste disposal may decrease urban ursine foraging for...

United States on Sep 25, 2021