Chapter 1. In a fog : Finding the essence of wildlife management -- Chapter 2. Prairie dogs on the beach : Values -- Chapter 3. Bears in a cauldron : Impacts -- Chapter 4. Deer for dessert : Limits and capacity -- Chapter 5. Cormorants on a dark night : Scale -- Chapter 6. Seeing a light : Decision making -- Chapter 7. Reunion : Synthesis.
This book is a fictional novel that follows six wildlife managers--each a representative of a different perspective of the profession--succeeding an emergency survey mission in the aftermath of an oil spill in the Northwest. With the mission complete and with time on their hands due to inclement weather, they discuss the doctrines, theories and tribulations facing contemporary wildlife biologists--Back cover.