Katherine Lange Dolan

Bella, the Wildlife Ambassador: Charles, the Crowded Cougar Katherine Lange Dolan

In Charles, the Crowded Cougar, an orphaned cougar living in Colorado faces danger every day from noisy bulldozers, mean male cougars, hunters, and scary road crossings. Wildlife Ambassador Bella befriends Charles, offers sage advice about humans, and helps the cougar out of a prickly situation. Along the way, Bella and her team learn the history of carnivores in the Americas and the reasons why cougars feel crowded. Bella's team addresses key conservation issues, including the ecological roles played by top predators as well as the current state of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation efforts.

The Bella, the Wildlife Ambassador Series is for families to enjoy together, discovering how we all can help protect wild animals. Older children will enjoy fascinating facts about wildlife and Bella's adventures. Parents/grandparents can read the book to younger children while learning cougar ecology from accompanying sidebars.

Kirkus Review praises the first book in the series "as an engaging environmental message from an endearing canine character" and adds, "Bella has an appealing personality; her protectiveness is touching, and as an "Ambassador," she's even polite to cats.