Although it would be a welcome addition to an Adirondacker's book shelf, "Adirondack Wildlife" is really meant to be thrown into a day pack, dog-eared and filled with quickly-scribbled notes - a field guide in the true sense of the word. A make-shift ruler in both inches and centimeters can be found on the front and back inside covers and amateur biologists can check off sightings on a species checklist in the back of the guide.

Adirondack Wildlife has much to offer... well-written and well-organized, [it] is a capably written... book that will help fans of nature and the Adirondacks welcome back the warmer weather.

Adirondack Wildlife: A Field Guide" by James Ryan contains brief descriptions and comments on the behavior of the birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and even invertebrates of northeastern New York. All but a few are found here as well, and even those formerly restricted to the Adirondacks, like fisher, otter and marten, are expanding their ranges beyond that limitation.

A hiker can stash half a dozen field guides in a pack for identifying Adirondack wildflowers and wildlife-or carry instead the compact, concise Adirondack Wildlife, with specific information on native plants and animals. James Ryan's entertaining and informative book catalogs an array of organisms in a new format that's user friendly and fun.

Reading Adirondack Wildlife reminded me of what a precious source of life and well-being we have been given here in the Adirondacks. One could sit down for a great read on a couple of rainy days or toss it in your backpack as a hiking companion for a day or a week in the woods.