{"product_id":"romp-a-journey-through-the-natural-history-of-otters-and-why-they-matter","title":"Romp!: A Journey Through the Natural History of Otters and Why They Matter","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eHeide Island\u003c\/b\u003e, PhD, is a professor of biological psychology and behavioral ecology at Pacific University and a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Otter Specialist Group. Her research on the welfare of captive and wild otter populations in the Pacific Northwest, including her longitudinal study of Whidbey Island's otters, has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences. She splits her time between a cabin on Whidbey Island, Washington, and a farm in McMinnville, Oregon, with her husband, Tom, and their dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, and honeybees.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Otters are fascinating intelligent, emotional, and sentient beings. I've had the pleasure of watching them romp around and hang out with their friends, and in this insightful, scientifically rigorous, and beautifully written book filled with facts and heartwarming stories, Heide Island explains how they play, socialize, hunt, survive, and thrive. It's clear that Island, an otter expert, isn't just a first-rate scientist and storyteller--she also deeply cares about otters, and so must we.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Marc Bekoff, PhD, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy\u003c\/i\u003e―\u003ci\u003eand Why They Matter\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eRomp!\u003c\/i\u003e is my favorite kind of natural history read. Even though I've lived alongside river and sea otters for years, this book made me feel like I've only just gotten to know my neighbors--and they are fascinating! Island combines rich descriptions of wild places and creatures with healthy seasonings of science and hilarious firsthand accounts of the trials and tribulations of field work. I was delighted by \n\u003ci\u003eRomp!\u003c\/i\u003e\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Amorina Kingdon, author of \u003ci\u003eSing Like Fish: How Sound Rules Life Under Water\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Heide Island brings a Jane Goodall-like patience and wonder to the world of otters, observing with both scientific rigor and deep reverence. \n\u003ci\u003eRomp!\u003c\/i\u003e is an intelligent study that never loses sight of its heart, written in prose that's as playful and engaging as its subjects. This is a book that will make you feel both smarter about the natural world and grateful to inhabit it.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Jennifer Lauck, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eBlackbird\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"If otters read books, they would really enjoy this one.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Dr. Nicole Duplaix, founder of the IUCN-SSC Otter Specialist Group, cofounder of the TRAFFIC Conservation Programme\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"This beautiful book captures the wonder, intelligence, and personality of otters in a way that reminds us why their survival matters so deeply. Island's observations shine a light on the fragile relationship between otters and their changing habitats.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Charles Knowles, president and cofounder of the Wildlife Conservation Network\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"As delightfully written as the otters themselves are to watch, this fact-filled book is a pleasure to read.\" \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e--Joseph K. Gaydos, science director of the SeaDoc Society and author of \u003ci\u003eThe Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Island, Heide, PhD\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Tarcher\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2026-04-28\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e Nature|Animals|Wildlife|Nature|Ecology|Nature|Environmental Conservation \u0026amp; Protection\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.25 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780593855034\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9780593855034\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tarcher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52164782489881,"sku":"SP-9780593855034","price":46.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/0380\/5209\/files\/9780593855034_spiral.png?v=1774494467","url":"https:\/\/westbindery.com\/products\/romp-a-journey-through-the-natural-history-of-otters-and-why-they-matter","provider":"West Bindery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}