Why our cats are a danger to species diversity and human health In 1894, a lighthouse keeper named David Lyall arrived on Stephens Island off New Zealand with a cat named Tibbles. In just over a year, the Stephens Island Wren, a rare bird endemic to the island, was rendered extinct. Mounting scientific evidence confirms what many conservationists have suspected for some time—that in the United States alone, free-ranging cats are killing birds and other animals by the billions. Equally alarming are the little-known but potentially devastating public health consequences of rabies and parasitic Toxoplasma passing from cats to humans at rising rates. Cat Wars tells the story of the threats free-ranging cats pose to biodiversity and public health throughout the world, and sheds new light on the controversies surrounding the management of the explosion of these cat populations. This compelling book traces the historical and cultural ties between humans and cats from early domestication to the current boom in pet ownership, along the way accessibly explaining the science of extinction, population modeling, and feline diseases. It charts the developments that have led to our present impasse—from Stan Temple's breakthrough studies on cat predation in Wisconsin to cat-eradication programs underway in Australia today. It describes how a small but vocal minority of cat advocates has campaigned successfully for no action in much the same way that special interest groups have stymied attempts to curtail smoking and climate change. Cat Wars paints a revealing picture of a complex global problem—and proposes solutions that foresee a time when wildlife and humans are no longer vulnerable to the impacts of free-ranging cats.

The alien Reapers have ruled Earth for forty-five years. David Valentine is a member of the human resistance, who is now being trained as a Cat-an elite stealth warrior. His first mission is to investigate the threat of the Twisted Cross, a mysterious new force under Reaper control.

A comical twist on "Little Red Riding Hood" told by Cat and Dog! Cat starts reading "Little Red Riding Hood" and explains, "It's a story about a little girl who always wears a red cape with a hood."Dog says, "COOL! I love stories about superheroes. What's her special power?"Cat says, "She doesn't have any special powers. It's not that kind of a story."And then the fun ensues!The zany, fun back-and-forth of Dog and Cat celebrates the joy of reading -- and questioning. Young children will cheer Dog's persistent questions as well as Cat's dedication to keep telling the story.

Available Digitally for the First Time A cat, a mouse, and two corpses equal a menagerie of murder for actress turned cat-sitting sleuth Alice Nestleton… Dubbed “one of Manhattan’s finest little-known actresses,” beautiful cat-sitter turned sleuth Alice Nestleton has been called into action again. This time the New York City cops have put her onto a case that’s right up her alley. It begins when a routine murder investigation uncovers a string of clues that tie up fifteen years of unsolved homicides. The common thread: a cat-loving serial killer who preys on feline owners, whisks away the startled pet, and leaves a mouse toy at the scene as his calling card. This is enough to put Alice hot on the trail for more clues—a trail that moves from the secretive small towns of the Adirondacks, to the pages of a book of nursery rhymes, to the eerie caverns of Central Park. There Alice finds herself face to face with a mysterious cult whose devotees dabble in cat-worship—and murder. Curl up with A Cat Tells Two Tales, available October 2012 in trade paperback from Obsidian.

A Wolf Called Romeo is the remarkable story of a wolf who returned again and again to interact with the people and dogs of Juneau, living on the edges of their community, engaging in an improbable, awe-inspiring interspecies dance and bringing the wild into sharp focus. At first the people of Juneau were guarded, torn between shoot first, ask questions later instincts and curiosity. But as Romeo began to tag along with cross-country skiers on their daily jaunts, play fetch with local dogs, or simply lie near Nick and nap under the sun, they came to accept Romeo, and he them. For Nick it was about trying to understand Romeo, then it was about winning his trust, and ultimately it was about watching over him, for as long as he or anyone could.

A long howl rises over the dark forest. It is a gray wolf calling for its pack! Gray wolves are intelligent creatures whose bodies and behaviors are adapted to thrive in the forest biome. This title features low-level text and striking photos to take readers on a journey into the life of a gray wolf. Maps and other features show off range, conservation status, life span, and diet.

Award-winning narrator George Guidall's adept reading enlivens a text packed with information in this exploration of the life of the gray wolf (or timber wolf). Using her effective format of large color drawings and useful facts, Gail Gibbons once again p