Arctic Fox: Life at the Top of the World

[Review of hardcover edition:] Journalist Hamilton covers the ecology and life cycle of this little fox, which has conquered one of the planet's most extreme climates. Hunting lemmings under packed snow, following reindeer herds on their migration, raising pups to independence in the three-month Arctic summer, and always looking for the next meal and eating whatever they can find, the behavior of the arctic fox makes for fascinating reading. One of the most interesting aspects of the fox's life is its ability to link up with polar bears and scavenge on their kills, behavior that Hamilton devotes an entire chapter to. Exquisitely illustrated with Rosing's photos, this is an intriguing look at a little-known animal. -- Nancy Bent * Booklist * [Review of hardcover edition:] Garry Hamilton has produced a wonderfully written account of a whimsical predator... He has gone to the source to obtain the most accurate and reliable information: the biologists and graduate students that ventured to the circumpolar region and studied the fox first hand. These interviews and summations of their research provide an added edge that is lacking in today's natural history writing.... Each chapter covers a particular aspect of Arctic fox biology and is accompanied by outstanding full-color photos by photographer Norbert Rosing. Indeed, the most striking aspect of Hamilton's writing is his ability to communicate the adaptability of the little fox, from reproduction to the constant struggle in obtaining food.... [The book] contains nearly everything currently known about the fox. In short, it is a thorough species account of the Arctic fox, and exceeded my initial expectations.... [It is] a must for those interested in carnivore ecology, and seeking a volume detailing the Arctic fox's struggle within the brutal frozen habitat north of the Arctic Circle. -- Howard O. Clarke, Jr * Canadian Field-Naturalist *