About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

Predator and prey may gather at the same watering hole, but care is cautioned before trying this at home.



Pros

• A compelling read

Cons

• Don't try this at home

Description

• paperback; 95 pages
• published by Southwest Educational Publishing
• ISBN: 0971657505

Guide Review - "Conquering the Food Chain," by Stacy Mantle

The author has achieved a sanctuary of a home where coyotes, wolf-dogs, cats, a ferret, and fish, all coexist peaceably, for the most part - they have learned new attitudes about the natural food chain, and they don?t attempt to eat each other.

Mantle does this because she has never learned to say "no" to an animal in need, and she is successful because the wilder species all respect her as the leader of the pack. Some of the stories will rip at your heart, such as the tale of Napolean, the rescued cat who died too young, or the story of Aquilla, the wolf-dog. Other vignettes will make you laugh, including a chapter on Cat Games. If you are tempted to experiment at home, be very careful - know your animals, and prepare to take control.