On June 26, 1659, a representative from five towns in a province in northern Italy initiated legal proceedings against caterpillars. Really, they actually did that? Yes, gentle reader, they totally did. Python-worthy material, totally side-splitting, and jaw-dropping. Her intro offers a stunning representation of just how stupid people have been when attempting to enforce laws on animals over the course of history. Well, fine, your sense of humor may not be like mine, but Mary has the key to my funny-bone. This is not an experience I have with any other writer, and yet have had it consistently with Mary Roach, across the several books of hers that I have read. Mary Roach – image from Lapham’s Quarterlyįirst, and foremost, I need to let you know straight away that you will be laughing out loud at least every few pages. What if animals were the perpetrators of crimes instead of people? She breaks the book down into “criminal” categories, homicide, B&E, man-slaughter, larceny, even jaywalking, and off we go. (Rhymes with sickish.) In any case, in her investigative travels, Mary came across a weird 1906 book about the prosecution and execution of animals and realized she had her hook. Really? Her presence would blow a National Wildlife Service raid on a market selling junk johnsons? It is pretty easy to come up with a descriptive for such unwarranted reticence. Wait! What? (there is link to the study in EXTRA STUFF, of course) But again it was nogo accompanying the officers into the field. I paid a visit to a woman at the National Wildlife Service forensics lab who had authored a paper on how to detect counterfeit “medicinal” tiger penises. She even had a grand theft avocado story lined up, but the local Smokeys would not let her come along, which was a requisite. Roach tells Goodreads, in a book-recommendation piece, that she came across a potential story about cattle breeders staging deaths to commit insurance fraud. She begins with a notion, then goes exploring.

A science writer now publishing her seventh book, Roach has written for many publications, including National Geographic, Wired, NY Times Magazine, and many more. Last night I stepped onto the elevator as a man was saying, “Ever tase an elk?” “So she looks in her rearview mirror,” one is saying, and there’s a bear in the back seat earing popcorn.” When wildlife officers gather at a conference, the shop talk is outstanding. Their leather hiking boots squeak as they walk. …I…follow along behind a small group of conservation officers heading to the lawn outside.

Mary roach fuzz