Chasing Wildlife Secrets

Description “Wild animals do not give up their secrets easily and McCorquodale shows just how much work—and danger—is involved in our quest to conserve wild things and the landscapes they rely on. This is a collection of well-written and exciting stories to chronicle one man’s efforts to chase down these secrets and make meaningful contributions that will benefit future generations.” —Jim Heffelfinger, Wildlife Science Coordinator, Arizona Game & Fish Department Professional wildlife biologist Scott McCorquodale observed the natural world from a unique and intimate perspective. His compelling, dramatic, and detailed accounts describe forty years of research on Pacific Northwest bears, deer, elk, and moose. He and his colleagues spent hours tracking animals in miserable conditions, setting countless traps, and hanging out of helicopters with a dart gun. Some animals left a lasting impression—including “Granny,” the first elk he ever darted, a Cle Elum elk who considered herself human, and a variety of personality-filled bears. The work was transformative. His thirteen years with a Yakama Nation wildlife program left a deep personal impact. Research on elk in eastern Washington’s treeless shrub-steppe essentially redefined much of what scientists now know about this species. Living year-round in an environment that they were not supposed to be able to occupy, they defied expectations and humbled experts. Close work with wild bears in Montana and Washington—capturing them for radio-collaring, entering their winter dens, dealing with the consequences of their innate ability to problem-solve and innovate in their search for food—earned them the author’s deep respect. While exciting and demanding, frequent helicopter and small airplanes flights also meant dangerous duty that—despite expert pilots and skilled passengers—sometimes led to tragedy. Finally, McCorquodale highlights the major efforts he led, the evolution of wildlife research, and how different the work is today.