Critter Tales: Adventures in Rehabilitating Wildlife

Critter Tales is a peek inside Shamballa Wildlife Rescue in Woodville, Alabama, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. It is a place where people can deliver orphaned or injured wildlife for care, rehabilitation, and release back into the wild. You will fall in love with the animals and surroundings in this book. They are a pure joy to look at.

Printed on premium paper in a "tabletop" format, Critter Tales is full of beautiful color photos of Shamballa's rescues and the rich stories that come with them. The author, John Russ, has compiled 14 well-told stories about the animals and surroundings at Shamballa Wildlife Rescue, everything from raccoons, fawns, foxes, groundhogs, and even a bobcat.

In Tibetan Buddhist lore, the word Shamballa refers to a mythical kingdom of enlightenment and peace. The key to paradise is within, and all around us, it suggests. Shamballa exemplifies kindness, compassion and, most of all, harmony with nature. As John Russ states, "Hopefully, years from now, we may walk a path and meet, face to face, a direct relative of one of our charges. This thought makes opening that carrier door to release a rehabbed animal little easier."

Alabama-born John Russ became interested in wildlife rehabilitation after working at the Los Angeles Zoo, and Wildlife Waystation in California. Today he runs Shamballa Wildlife Rescue with his wife, April, who also has extensive experience in caring for wild animals.