Friends of Merrill-Cazier Library Fall Lecture Oct. 25

Utah State University’s Merrill-Cazier Library hosts its Friends of the Library fall lecture “Mousy Cats and Sheepish Coyotes: The Science of Animal Personalities,” by John Shivik, Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m., in the library, room101. 

Shivik says everyone expects our favorite primates including dogs and cats, to display distinct, measurable differences in temperament. But what about less familiar species from dolphins to bluebirds to crabs to spiders, flies and even single-celled organisms? More importantly: Why? Why is personality so pervasive in the animal world? Shivik surveys research on a broad range of species and examines the importance of individual personalities to humans and evolution. 

Shivik is widely known as an expert in non-lethal approaches to predation management. He has an extensive research and publication record on mammalian predators in the western United States, especially with coyotes, bears and wolves, but his research activities have led him from the tropics of Guam to work on brown treesnakes to the plains of Spain where he assisted
research on foxes. He serves on the board of the Ogden Nature Center. He is the author of The Predator Paradox: Ending the War with Wolves, Bears, Cougars, and Coyotes, and Mousy Cats and Sheepish Coyotes: The Science of Animal Personalities. He is an affirmed dog-person with a cat named Pinguino.

The Friends of Merrill-Cazier Library is an organization whose purpose is to to create an awareness of Utah State University's Merrill-Cazier Library's resources, facilities and personnel; enrich library resources; and sponsor outreach activities.