Look Big: And Other Tips for Surviving Animal Encounters of All Kinds

by Rachel Levin

Overview

A humorous and helpful illustrated field guide to avoiding interactions—both dangerous and annoying—with 50 wild animals, including survival techniques, wildlife etiquette, and other essential advice.

As humans encroach on wild places, encounters with animals—from bears, bison, mountain lions, and mice to turkeys, ticks, rats, and raccoons—have become increasingly commonplace. But, wait, what are the rules for facing a moose up close? Do you run from a coyote or stand your ground? How deadly, really, are black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, and sharks? Packed with expert tips, fascinating animal facts, and harrowing true tales, Look Big is a must-have survival guide for outdoor, urban, and suburban adventurers alike. If you have ever feared the approach of a grizzly, the spray of a skunk, or an army of cockroaches in the kitchen, this book is for you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399580376
Publisher:	Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Publication date:	04/10/2018
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	652,191
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

RACHEL LEVIN has written for the New Yorker, the New York Times, Outside, Lucky Peach, and Sunset magazine, where she was a senior travel editor. She is a contributing writer at San Francisco magazine and was recently named the first San Francisco restaurant critic for Eater. A member of the San Francisco Writers' Grotto, her work has been included in Best Food Writing and other books. She has also appeared on NPR's Marketplace, KQED's Forum, and on stage at Pop-Up Magazine.

Read an Excerpt

It’s an increasingly wild world out there. Wildlife and humans have long been at odds, in ways both big and small. But as we continue to build 4,000-square-foot homes where forests once stood and pile into cities (predator-free, all-you-can-eat buffets for the animals that follow), our lives are intersecting more and more. It turns out, animals appreciate the ease of urban and suburban life as much as we do. They’re thriving. We’re cowering. And it’s getting a little out of hand for everyone involved.
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Look Big"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Rachel Levin.
Excerpted by permission of Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Introduction: It's a Wild World 7

Alligators 10

Ants 13

Ants in the Minivan McKenzie Funk 14

Bats 17

Bears (Block, Grizzly, and Brown) 18

Grizzlies in Alaska Peter Fish 22

Bed Bugs 24

Bed Bugs on the Mind Brooke Borel 27

Bees, Wasps, and Hornets 28

Bison 31

Black Widow Spiders 32

Bobcats 34

Cockroaches 37

Cockroaches in New York (of Course) Bonnie Tsui 38

Cows 40

Coyotes 43

Coyotes in My Face Chris Colin 45

Crows 46

Deer 51

Deer in the Suburbs Vanessa Hua 52

Dogs 55

Donkeys 56

Dust Mites 59

Elephant Seals 60

Foxes 63

Fruit Flies 64

Geese 67

Horses 68

Jaguars 71

Jellyfish 72

Lice 74

Mice 77

Mice in the Backseat Samin Nosrat 78

Moose 81

Mosquitoes 82

Mountain Lions 84

Opossums 87

Owls (Great Horned) 89

Pigeons 90

Porcupines 92

Rabbits 95

Bunnies in the Backyard Rebecca Flint Marx 96

Raccoons 98

Raccoons in the Kitchen Peter Orner 100

Rats 102

Rats in the Bedroom Diana Kapp 107

Rattlesnakes 108

Seagulls 110

Sea Urchins 113

Sharks 114

Sheep 118

Skunks 121

Squirrels 122

Stingrays 125

Ticks 126

Turkeys 129

Whales 130

Wild Boars 132

Wolves 136

Woodpeckers 139

Animals from Most to Least Deadly 140

Acknowledgments 141

Index 142

Editorial Reviews

"Hilarious but genuinely helpful. . ."
— Buzzfeed

"Ms. Levin has mastered the art of describing animals and their behavior in archly urban ways. . . a nifty idea carried out with humor and a deft touch."
— Wall Street Journal

"Look Big is the definitive guide for anyone who has ever wondered what to do in an animal encounter. With equal parts humor and sound advice, Rachel Levin provides all the info you need to defuse a major critter crisis. Just don’t run. Unless it’s an alligator."
— Christopher Keyes, editor of Outside magazine

"Journalist Levin gives well-researched advice for surviving run-ins with coyotes, bears, and moose, among other large animals, along with helpful tips, anecdotes, and charts for dealing with smaller critters, from bees to skunks. The illustrations make it the perfect coffee table book, while its small size means it also fits nicely in a backpack."
— Real Simple

". . . lays out expert tactics for encounters with animals of all shapes and sizes with wit."
— Martha Stewart Living

"Rachel Levin’s light-hearted read combines funny stories about wildlife encounters with facts and knowledgeable tips on what to do if you find yourself faced with any one of 50 North American creatures, from alligators to bed bugs. You’ll be ready to walk on the wild side in no time."
— Afar.com
 
"This book both amused and empowered me. I’m now prepared to haze a goose or do hand-to-hand combat with a cougar . . . whatever it takes."
-- Jon Mooallem, author of Wild Ones and American Hippopotamus

"Levin takes a fun-filled, practical approach to dealing with all kinds of critters. . . Beyond being a simple and speedy reference book, the gorgeous and often humorous illustrations from Jeff Östberg make this fun to flip through, too. . . You'll likely find yourself spending more time than you expected learning how to look big."
— Mother Nature Network

From the Publisher