Reviews for Keeping African Pygmy Hedgehogs As a New Pet

The average rating for Keeping African Pygmy Hedgehogs As a New Pet based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-03-05 00:00:00 James Marnie I adore this book. When I finished it, there was a profound sense of loss I couldn't place from where it had surfaced. This is a non-fiction that is detailed, imaginative, invigorating and heartfelt. It is easy to sum up the premise of the book but so difficult to concisely describe the emotions this book has elicited from me. The book is the re-telling of a series of bear-attacts that occurred over the summer of 1980 in Banff National Park. Marty told the story from the park wardens' perspectives, the visitors' perspectives and even the bears' perspectives. He detailed the changes in park's management policies and practices during that period of time, the struggles park wardens faced while enforcing the regulations, the visitors' and Banff residents' attitude towards bears in general and more specifically the bear attacks. The book begins with a brief discussion on some of the plausible factors that contributed to bear aggression in 1980. It also mentions a couple of fatal incidences and near-misses due to poor garbage management in Banff few years leading up to 1980. The main part of the book tells what had happened and what might have happened in late August and early September, over three bear attacts from (most likely) the same Grizzley bear. As I read the book, I wondered just how much Sid Marty had pondered over what happened that particular summer. I'm guessing, without the plan of publishing a book about it, Marty conducted interview with parties involved (wardens, biologists, police officers, parademics, helicopter pilots, victims, victims's families, etc.), searched government archives for investigation records, and kept news clips for references… All the effort spent trying to answer a question: "Why the Whiskey Creek bear didn't finish what he started?" Through his thorough investigation, I could feel his frustration over government bureacracy and people's ignorance. I could also sense his fondness for the nature and respect for the wildlife. I find it very interesting that he intermittently writes from the bears' perspectives. I think it is quite ingenious to use the bears' point of views to fill the the gaps that remain mysteries to us. Perhaps Marty himself finds some kind of closure using this format of storytelling. It provides an explanation to bears' "unexplainable" behaviour, an educated guess nonetheless. I thoroughly enjoy this book. It is such as compelling story. I can't wait to read other writings by Sid Marty. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the nature and has a soft spot for the wilderness. It is definitely a 5 star book.

Review # 2 was written on 2009-09-18 00:00:00 Jennifer Guzman Some people I know disn't like the "inside the head of the bear" sequences, but I thought it added to the book by giving a different perspective on what was going on. Marty knows his bears and his insider status on the events lends a credibility that could have been achieved by any other writer.