Book: The Case of the Mummified Pigs & Other Mysteries in Nature, Susan Quinlan

Hardcover, 128 pages, published 1995. Listed as appropriate for grades 4-7 but adults will find this book equally interesting. This copy is in excellent used/vintage condition. Gently loved, slight scuffing on the dust cover and minor cosmetic wear around the edges (see pics). No scribbles, no torn or missing pages. "Naturalist and wildlife biologist Sue Quinlan explores fourteen ecological mysteries: Why would a herd of reindeer suddenly disappear? How could a bird's tail feathers change color? And what would make dead pigs become mummified? Drawing upon scientific studies and firsthand interviews with scientists, Quinlan traces the steps of investigation and discovery." Presented in a way that's very much like a "Natural World CSI" 🔎 this is a fascinating book that offers case studies to help give kids a sense of our ecologically-complex world. Why did this species die off? Was it predators, was it illness, was it starvation? What mechanisms made one species fail while another thrived? How much do our ecosystems depend on fungi and microorganisms, on climate and location? In this era more than any other, it's vital for us to understand how environmental and social factors affect the health of all life forms. By riddling out causes and gathering data points, scientists like those interviewed in this book can give us a chance at achieving some sort of natural balance on this planet in the future. 🔬 👩‍🔬 🦠