Books about critters and varmints by various authors

c.2025, various publishers, $30-$32, various page counts

You don’t “do” varmints.

You don’t want to see them, you don’t want to hear them, you don’t want to know they’re even around – but then again, you’re a little curious. Why are we so squeamish about some animals, and not others? Try these great books about the creatures that live on the edge and find out…

A couple months ago, bats were everywhere in stores, porches and decorations large and small, but did you know that real-life bats actually come in sizes ranging from tiny to human-sized? That’s just a sampling of what you’ll read about in “The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal” by Yossi Yovel (St. Martin’s Press, $32). 

Why do bats make so many people shudder? You’ll wonder why, after you learn some truths, facts and myth-settlers about this truly fascinating animal. If you love wildlife, missing this book might drive you batty.

Maybe you love them. Maybe you think they’re annoying tree rodents. No matter how you see them, in “Squirrel: How a Backyard Forager Shapes Our World” by Nancy Castaldo (Island Press, $30) you’ll learn about one of America’s most familiar wild animals.

They’re adorable, with their flicking little tails and their tiny paws – both of which they use to raid your bird feeder and ruin your garden. They’re social media darlings. They’re dinner for some people. They’re ecological necessities for all of us: you can’t get rid of them, nor would you really want to. Most of all, Castaldo says, squirrels as a species are stressed and they need us, so read on.

Roughly a third of humans in the world are afraid of the creatures that this third book is about. In “Slither: How Nature’s Most Maligned Creatures Illuminate Our World” by Stephen S. Hall (Grand Central, $30), you’ll read about the snake in history, starting with the Garden of Eden. Was the Bible the reason snakes are feared and reviled? Is it because of their fangs and (possible) venom? Despite that many people are disgusted by them and monkeys are genetically terrified by them… why are snakes so fascinating? You’ll see why, as author Hall takes readers on the ground, through the forest and sands. Snakes, as he shows, feature in mythology, cultural beliefs and many religions. You’ll find them in art and in ancient tales, in the lab and in the zoo. They can mean paralyzing fear or deep respect, life or death, protection or fertility, punishment or medical cure. This book will thrill anyone with a snake fascination, and it’ll enlighten those who are sssssssscared of snakes.

And if these three books aren’t enough information or a deep-enough dive into those little-discussed, sometimes creepy critters, head to your favorite library or bookstore and ask for help. The staff there can help you find more on these creatures and other equally enthralling critters that crawl, walk, coil or build webs. You might not like them now, but reading books about them and learning more is the smart thing to do.