Cull of the Wild

Hugh Warwick, a British ecologist, has spent decades studying his favorite species, the hedgehog. In his fourth book, Cull of the Wild: Killing in the Name of Conservation, Warwick shifts his focus to examine the complex and controversial practice of culling invasive species to save native species in the United Kingdom.

Warwick’s investigative approach incorporates diverse perspectives from fellow conservationists. His writing style is engaging and deeply personal. The book is structured around a series of interviews with conservationists who attempt to justify the necessity and effectiveness of culling nonnative species such as gray squirrels and American mink—even hedgehogs in places where they are not native, such as Scotland’s Outer Hebrides islands. Both successful and futile conservation efforts are discussed, though the interviewees favor a utilitarian perspective. They argue that mass culling, albeit unpleasant, is necessary for maintaining ecosystem integrity and reversing “our ancestors’ mistakes.” At the same time, Warwick and his colleagues acknowledge that animals culled are unfairly punished for circumstances beyond their control.

In subsequent chapters, Warwick directly addresses the moral quandaries involved in culling, ultimately advocating a more nuanced approach to conservation. His final insight—“we need to jettison the simplistic and the binary and be willing to think better”—encapsulates the book’s central message: Conservation requires complex, compassionate solutions.

Author: Hugh Warwick

Publisher: Bloomsbury Wildlife

No. Pages: 304

Program Terms: Terrestrial Wildlife

AWI Quarterly Terms: Review