Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature

by David Williams, Elizabeth Person (illustrator)

For award-winning natural history writer David B. Williams, to be connected to a place you need to pause and look deeply at it. Wild in Seattle is Williams's delightful journey of discovery in this city where not only is nature all around, it's also written in the stones of the urban landscape. Explore the geologic history of glaciers, tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes as well as the ways humans shape the Seattle topography. From backyards to downtown, watch for coyotes, crows, seals, otters, owls, and so much more wildlife who also call the region home. Look up at the buildings to find terra cotta eagles, stone that traveled over millions of years from Asia to the San Juan Islands, and clues to the horses who used to power the city's transportation network. Wrap your arms around a giant Douglas-fir, appreciate the unsung yet remarkable skunk cabbage, stop and listen to the spring chorus of frogs.

Williams's lively essays will fire up the curiosity of both residents and visitors alike, inspiring all to take a fresh look at the Emerald City.

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2025

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Reviews

[Kate Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, delightful collection of short essays about the urban ecosystem that is Seattle, WA, and the history of how it got to where it is today, starting with some geological features and the original settlement by the Duwamish. Williams is a geologist & naturalist with a great sense of humor. I’m loving his word play. Watercolor sketches, some in color and some in black and white, are exquisite!