Raised by animals : how dolphins bond, why meerkats babysit, and other lessons from families in the wild

**From a leading animal behaviorist, an often humorous look at the many surprising parallels between human and animal parents** In __Raised by Animals__, evolutionary biologist Jennifer L. Verdolin, PhD, invites parents, animal lovers, and science buffs to explore the wild world of parenting in the animal kingdom—and its implications for human families. Weaving together research on both human and animal behavior, she draws fascinating (and sometimes shocking) parallels in a narrative that's packed with interesting tidbits. Find out why newly hatched goslings imprint on anything that moves, and how Mexican free-tailed bats can identify their pups among literally millions of others (it's not unlike how human mothers recognize their babies' cries)! Plus, gain insight from Mother Nature on the big questions of child-rearing, from birth to "leaving the nest": - Does attachment parenting have evolutionary roots? - Do more attractive... When it comes to family matters, do humans know best? Leading animal behaviorist Dr. Jennifer Verdolin argues otherwise in this eye-opening book. Welcome to the wild world of raising a family in the animal kingdom . . . sometimes shocking, often ingenious! Every species can surprise us: Chimps have a knack for minimizing temper tantrums, and owl chicks have a remarkable gift for sharing. A prairie vole knows exactly when his stressed-out partner needs a massage. And anyone who considers reptiles “cold-blooded” should consider the caecilian, a snakelike animal from Kenya: After laying eggs, the mother grows a fatty layer of skin, which her babies eat after hatching (not one of the book’s many lessons from the wild to be tried at home!). Along the way Verdolin challenges our often counterproductive beliefs about what families ought to be like and how we should feel. By finding common ground with our furry, feathered, and even slimy cousins, we can gain new insight on what “natural” parenting really means—and perhaps do a better job of forgiving ourselves for those days when we’re “only human”! From a leading animal behaviourist, an often humorous look at the many surprising parallels between human and animal parents. In Raised by Animals, evolutionary biologist Jennifer Verdolin, PhD, invites parents, animal lovers, and science buffs to explore the wild world of parenting in the animal kingdom - and its implications for human families. Weaving together research on both human and animal behavior, she draws fascinating parallels in a narrative that's packed with interesting tidbits. Find out why newly hatched goslings imprint on anything that moves, and how Mexican free-tailed bats can identify their pups among literally millions of others. Plus, gain insight from Mother Nature on the big questions of child-rearing, from birth to 'leaving the nest':*Does attachment parenting have evolutionary roots?*Do more attractive offspring benefit from favouritism?*How can we better understand our own families?In a sense, we are all raised by animals - and that may not be such a bad thing! It's all relative We're pregnant! Growing bellies, nest building, and arrival Your bundle of joy Adjusting to parenthood : the physical, mental, and social challenges Parenting : breast is best and other controversies We are family They grow up so fast No! The nature of discipline Different families A return to our roots.