The subtitle of Fuzz by Mary Roach: When Nature Breaks the Law is an early indication of the author’s sense of humor. After all, who thinks about nature’s creatures as potential crooks?
Turns out, not all birds and animals are above suspicion, and many are often repeat offenders.
The work jumps right into it with Roach participating in a Wildlife-Human Attack Response Training in Nevada. There, readers can see the similarities between a murder investigation where people are the suspects. The trainees look for clues to determine whether another human was involved, and if not, what type of animal might be in question. Roach calls this “a wildlife whodunit.”
Bears, elephants, leopards, gulls and even noxious weeds, among others, are fall under Roach’s scrutiny. She’s exhaustive, often to the extreme, in her research. She spends time with wildlife managers, attack-animal forensics investigators, and Vatican employees; also among many others. The work isn’t limited to one country, or even a single continent.
Some of the species are endangered; others have abundant populations.
Interspersed with Roach’s wit are serious statistics and concerns. When animals “jaywalk” whose fault is it? Ditto, for bears who break into cars and homes for food? Sometimes, humans simply make it too easy. Some of the species are endangered; others have abundant populations. As she illustrates the problems, Roach is well aware that human behavior is a contributing factor.
Fuzz When Nature Breaks the Law
Three- and three-quarters Bookmarks
W.W. Norton, 2021
308 pages, includes Acknowledgements and Bibliography; Reading Group Guide not included in page count
The Blue Page Special 