On October 19, 2011, the owner of a private zoo in Zanesville, Ohio, opened the cages of the fifty-six exotic animals he kept, and then shot himself. A few animals escaped before authorities could reach the zoo, but most hovered near the fence, afraid and confused. Imminent nightfall forced the hard decision not to risk use of tranquilizer, but to shoot to kill. One person described this real-life tragedy as "Noah's ark wrecked."But what if the opposite had occurred, and most of the animals had escaped to invade the town?In Wild Life, the fictional residents of Tarryville, Ohio, find out. As each person comes face to face with an exotic animal, hidden truths are revealed, and each likewise comes face to face with the harsh reality of their own lives. Perspectives, and priorities, can alter in an instant during unexpected events.