Wildlife in America

by Peter Matthiessen

This classic history of the rare, threatened, and extinct animals of North America is a dramatic chronicle of man's role in the disappearance of great and small species of our land. "Should be the number one source volume for everyone who embraces the philosophy of conservation."--Roger Tory Peterson. Illustrations throughout.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Natural History, Wildlife, Environment, Conservation, Science

336 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1995

About the author

Peter Matthiessen is the author of more than thirty books and the only writer to win the National Book Award for both non-fiction (The Snow Leopard, in two categories, in 1979 and 1980) and fiction (Shadow Country, in 2008). A co-founder of The Paris Review and a world-renowned naturalist, explorer and activist, he died in April 2014.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A list of wildlife in America that you will never get a chance to see or interact with: the exterminated, the extirpated. The book is written in historical novel form with solid scientific, historical, and personal experiences interspersed with line drawings. Absolutely fascinating, heart wrenching, educational. Must not miss this one.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read the 1987 paperback edition, but this has the right cover, so that's close enough. The book was originally published in 1959, and then "updated" (mostly by someone else) but honestly, the majority of the book feels untouched, so it might as well be the 1959 edition. And that's good, for several reasons. For one thing, Matthiessen writes beautifully, and the book is both informative and compelling. For another, it's interesting to get a take on the topic before we had Earth Day, before we had the EPA, and so on.

The book is a wonderful document of what was lost and what had been saved at that time, and there are lovely drawings by Bob Hines scattered throughout the book, which greatly enhance the reading experience. Perhaps after all organic life has been snuffed out on our little world in search of that last ounce of fossil fuel, some space aliens will find a copy of this book amidst the ruins and wonder why we couldn't manage to save ourselves and our fellow creatures.

[Samantha McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall this book is a must read for conservationists. At times it was a hard read, as the author covered dozens of species man has had an impact on.

[Mike Parkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of wildlife in North America, the losses since the Columbian exchange, and the beginnings of wildlife conservation. The focus is very much on species, not spaces, so you won’t find much on land conservation or the National Parks system. A bit dated (1959, with some minor updates if you pick up the revised edition), but this brings only minor quibbles (Matthiessen’s view of the evolutionary trajectory of species wouldn’t exactly match most modern biologists) and charms (you don’t get to hear “nimrod” used much as an insult these days). It also means you don’t learn much about more recent developments such as the Endangered Species Act, but you will learn about the early developments and circumstances that laid the groundwork for modern conservation. The writing is magnificent, and the black-and-white species illustrations lend additional charm.

[Taylor Jolliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The wild creatures of the open spaces, of clear water and green northern wilds, of gold prairie and huge sky, embody a human longing no less civilized for being primitive, no less real for being felt rather than thought."

This is a book best read a chapter at a time to fully take in information and reflect on the shear scope of our human hunger--hunger for land, food, entertainment, control of our environments at any cost. Which is not to say reading this will only bring despair! Rich portraits of birds, fish, mammals, etc., in their historical settings--along with the included illustrations and the poetic language--make this a compelling, educational, and heart-wrenching work that everyone should read.

And now, it will be hard for me to shake the longing for another heaven and another earth.

[Vaidya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Details the wildlife of America and their journey from abundance to decimation with the arrival of the White Man, to an eventual recovery with the rise of conservation.
It thus also parallels the conservation and environment movement through the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Some species did lose the battle completely, like the passenger pigeon, the Eskimo Curlew and the Steller's Sea Cow.
Many have recovered, at least in protected ranges, like the bald eagles, falcons, bison, antelopes and bighorns. Many are teetering on the edge of extinction like the black footed ferret, whooping crane and the California Condor. Some like the coyote and racoon adapted widely.
It is a fascinating and depressing work detailing the journey of wildlife in America of the past 3-4 centuries.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

In addition to specific wildlife, it discusses conservation methods and related politics. Written 60 years ago, it is a bit dated. Whenever the author mentioned a species that was on the verge of extinction, or recovering from near extinction, I had to research the current status. I found it very informative and interesting.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

NF
281 pages

An informative, dramatic history of
American wildlife as only Peter
Matthiessen can immerse you in.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was lucky for find a copy in Homer, Alaska.

[Michael Holm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a history of the elimination of abundant wildlife on the NA continent by the European invasion. There are quite a few species that are now extinct due to habitat modification, chemicals, importation of competitors and depredation by man and his domestics.

Matthiessen begins with a description of North American wildlife before Christopher Columbus by using descriptions of early settlers and pioneers. This especially interested me since I have tried to imagine the US before Europeans changed it. Wouldn't it be fabulous to view a movie of an exploration by a team of naturalists across the continent similar to the Lewis & Clark expedition? Then he methodically chronicles by chapter the impact of colonization and settlement upon wildlife from east to west across the continent. On the East Coast, for example, the slaughter of the Great Auk and elimination of the Guadalupe Petrel, Short-tailed Albatross, Bermuda Petrel and Black-capped Petrel. On the prairie, the Black-footed Ferret and Passenger Pigeon were eliminated. The bison, elk, antelope, prairie dogs, wolves, panthers and others have been decimated. On the West Coast the California Condor is fading into extinction. It is a heart-rending catalog of species severely decimated or completely eradicated.

Matthiessen does not always blame hunter for the destruction. He opines that conversion of natural wilderness to field and range as the primary culprit. Chemicals are also blamed as poisons. Much destruction is due to cats, rats, mongooses and other creatures imported from Europe and Asia. And some extinctions are inevitable due to species not adapting to changes such as the interglacial warming and on their way out even if man were not present. Threatened species down to very small numbers and 'on the ropes' do not have a decent chance of survival because of in-breeding
and disease. The survival status of current species as of 1995 is listed in Appendix I. The bibliography lists additional nature literature.

Peter Matthiessen is a noted naturalist, novelist and writer. In 1979 and 1980 Snow Leopard won the National Book Award for Non-fiction. He won the 2008 National Book Award for Fiction for Shadow Country. His prose is sensitive, empathetic but not maudlin.

The book is very well written and I intend to read some more of this author's nature writing. Wildlife preservation is popular now and this book is an authoritative documentation of the current situation and outlook. It is a somber history and a wake-up call to all Americans and people around the world. I heartily recommend this book and support of The Nature Conservancy.

[Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare book, predating Rachel Carson's Silent Spring by a couple of years. While Carson talks about the detrimental effect of chemicals such as DDT on environment, Matthiessen chronicles the story of this land called America--the story of what happened to the land after the Europeans came over. How many Americans know of the existence of an American parrot? That the bison or the buffalo frequented the east coast? Or that the forests were so thick that a squirrel could theoretically go from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi without touching land? This is a story that needed to be told, and Matthiessen--who died recently--writes in prose that is lucid and masterful. (He was the only writer by the way, to win the National Book Award in both fiction and non-fiction.) I managed to get a used hardcover copy of this book, which I recommend--much cheaper and does more justice to Bob Hines' landmark illustrations.

[Bill O'driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like something of a lost classic -- a survey of endangered wildlife from the 1950s. It predates Silent Spring by several years, and shows that the "environmental movement" had some post-war roots that didn't start with Rachel Carson's classic. Of course, its concerns are different -- more about overhunting and habitat destruction, with little to no mention of the toxins that concerned Carson. But Matthiesen's writing is gorgeous and incisive, and set a standard for naturalist writing to come. Read the first chapter, about the very first recorded extinction in North America (that of the great auk) and you'll be hooked.

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wildlife in America by Peter Matthiessen (Penguin Books 1978) (591.97). This is a history of species lost in North America at the hands of man. The roll is astonishing. This catalogs the threatened, endangered, and extinct. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 2009.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible book. Matthiessen's writing is so insightful and honest. This should be a must-read for all students of ecology or anyone interested in wildlife, really. I look forward to coming back to this one.

[Larry Schwartz]

1959 edition. Bought used.

[Accipiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had pivotal effect on my life. Couldn't recommend it more highly (good paired with A Sand County Almanac).

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative.

[Maryanne]

Wildlife in America 6/24/2008 Peter Matthiessen

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book by an outstanding author. The book is often overlooked by people who love and study the wilderness. The important details in the book are also often overlooked.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about how wolves live.