Glacier: A Natural History Guide

by David Rockwell

Author and naturalist David Rockwell explains the evolution of the park's geology from the erosion of Australian mountains more than a billion years ago to the glaciers that gave Glacier National Park its distinctive landscape. He explores the natural history of the plants and animals of the park's six distinct regions. You'll learn about the park's greatest predators, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and wolves, and about their complex relationship with their prey. The result is a fascinating and intimate portrait of one of the world's last truly wild places.

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tried reading this before my trip to Glacier National Park but knew so little then about the area that I could only very slowly make it through a couple of chapters. But once I returned, I was able to relate to more and to recognize at least some of the places and concepts discussed and enjoyed finishing it.

Book covers the park geology, flora and fauna, its human history and the role of fires, past and present, in shaping today’s landscape. It is all pretty factual but occasionally, as the book winds down, there are a few short asides about the author’s own moments of exploration in the park. I wish there had been more.

My favorite chapter was on the grizzlies, lots of good insights.

[Georgene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating information about the geology and ecology of this national park, which we will be visiting soon. Everything in the park has evolved around naturally occurring wildfires. However, park policy for years was to suppress these wildfires, to the detriment of whole ecosystems. I found it interesting to learn how plants and animals in the wild depend on each other and are perfectly balanced, until something upsets the balance. Many plants and animals are disappearing and scientists don’t always know why. And even if they do know why, there is often nothing that can be done. There is also the difficulty of the balance between keeping such a wild place wild, and allowing people to enjoy such beauty and wildness.

[Tbuikema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting stuff here: geology, flora, fauna… I would have liked to have seen more maps, to better orient myself to the discussions. This was pretty good to read ahead of my first visit to the park - would be better, maybe, after one or more visits - also using the book to inform them.

[Henry Kline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very interested in the information in the book but it was a very slow read.

[Bruce Tannehill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone visiting Glacier Park would benefit from this book. It does need to be updated.

[Paul Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I highly recommend this book if you wish to learn about the interesting lives of birds and animals that live in Glacier. Highly informative, and written for the masses - it's not a scientific scholarly read.

[Stasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this sort of on a whim when I decided that I was going to go to Glacier. The theory was that while I was in Glacier, it would be cool to learn about Glacier.

And it was the best idea ever! Though the book feels a little random at times, like Rockwell just included the stuff about the geology, animals, and history that interested him and sort of ignored the rest, I was okay with that. I learned a whole bunch--even things that I for some reason often have a hard time digesting in writing (like geology) were super easy to follow. I loved having this book with me.

The best thing, though, is that though it's about Glacier, a lot of the systemic stuff he talks about translates to other climates and ecosystems as well. I often find myself saying "well, I was just reading about..." and then finishing up with something from this book. Awesome!

[David Platt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the geologic history and ecological importance of Glacier National Park. The last chapter, The Human Presence, focuses on the need to protect not just the park itself but also the habitat surrounding the park. Rockwell writes "For Glacier National Park to succeed as we have intended, we need to maintain the corridors connecting it to other large wild areas." Many of the park's animals need to migrate from season to season to survive. If we trap them by surrounding the park with busy highways, commercial and residential development, and other habitat-destroying practices, then these animals will starve or fail to reproduce in sufficient numbers to maintain healthy genetic diversity.

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I learned a lot about this gorgeous park - about rock formations, present life, extinct life, about the ten months of the year when the park is void of humans, about the crazy practices of the park officials in the old times, about the water systems etc.

I didn't know the park contained sundew! Definitely going to find it next time.

[Carlee C Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchased on a whim while visiting Glacier NP. I saw that several of the boat tour guides had them on the boat or at the ticket office. Went into one of the gift stores and bought it. This book is soooo good.