As a boy growing up on the Fox River in Illinois my father taught me that all one needed to survive in the wild existed in plenty if one knew where to look.
There were mulberries, strawberries and raspberries, walnuts and butternuts. Wild asparagus was Growing there as was watercress, gooseberries and wild grapes.
Pheasant, duck and [...]

On this particular day I am late getting started. As the new day dawns, animals, large and small, usually seek lay ups where they can rest in anticipation of their evening feed.
I tell myself that it is unlikely that I will see much but you never know, and after all, I need the walk.
As I [...]

 
 
 
 
Don, a fire spotter for the U.S. Forest service was hiking down a little used trail in an area seldom visited by man in one of those vast wilderness areas of Montana.  As he came around a bend in the trail he spotted a young black bear moving in his direction on the same trail.
The [...]

Years pass, memories fade, old news clippings turn yellow and hair either turns white or falls out, such is life.
It has been many years ago but it is permanently etched into my memory.
I was preparing to transport an African spotted leopard to another location when quite suddenly I found myself flat on my back with [...]

I was following a wilderness trail back on the state land near my home searching for bear sign.
 
As a naturalist and a wildlife photographer I have spent countless hours observing bears and I have concluded that of all creatures bears really are such interesting folks.
 
The similarities between bears and humans are quite remarkable.
 
 Think [...]

                        The large snake was warm and for the moment that was all that was important.
 
Lying in the grass as he was he was well hidden though there were not many that would dare to intrude upon the reptiles solitude.
  
In six years of life he had never been threatened by another predator except [...]

The pup had reached the end of the trail. With no idea what he had been following he had come face to face with his quarry. Yes, he had reached the end of the trail and it could very well be his last, for the formidable creature that he faced could kill, horribly. The young [...]

 
As soon as I glimpsed the small group of whitetail deer approaching the river I beached the canoe and quietly stepped into the shallow water.  I was wearing cutoffs and an old pair of sneakers as well as my well-used camouflage gear. 
The water was cool as I moved quietly to the downstream side of [...]

I am somewhat remiss for having left out this portion of Killer’s tale, please forgive my remissiveness. 
We mustn’t dismiss this tragic tale of woe without regaling and beguiling you with one more of our misadventures with my faithful ‘coon hound, “Killer” otherwise, A.K.A. “Ol’ Pisser.”
Oh yes, I feel somewhat obligated to honor a fellow, or is it that, [...]

As dogs go Lucky was unique.
One of his traits was his gentle, laid back character, sort of a cross between a manic crocodile and a T-Rex on uppers.
Lucky would challenge all comers and fight at the drop of a hat but his sweet disposition, though endearing was not his most attractive characteristic.
What really set Lucky [...]