This work investigates how European animal species have adapted their behaviors and habitats in response to the pervasive influence of human expansion. Maurice Burton, a noted zoologist and author, utilizes his extensive background in natural history to synthesize observations on the shifting ecological balance across the continent. He presents a framework that categorizes wildlife responses to human intrusion, ranging from displacement and extinction to successful synanthropic adaptation.

Experts recognize this text as a foundational observational study on the intersection of human development and wildlife ecology. Readers frequently note the accessible yet detailed nature of the prose, which balances scientific observation with clear, descriptive writing.