Wild Work—Adventures of Women Field Biologists is a gripping collection of over 40 true stories by some of the courageous, dedicated women who work to study and protect the world’s wildlife and its habitats. From playing tag alongside wolves in the Arctic to wading up rivers filled with venomous snakes in Alabama, from evading poachers in Panama to surviving floods in Alaska, and from being attacked by bears to cuddling wild foxes, the women who lived these adventures have overcome fears, forged fierce friendships, and juggled field work with family life as they embraced the natural world.

My brilliant co-editor for Wild Work is Sophie Osborn, an award-winning writer, esteemed bird conservation biologist, long-ago grad school colleague, and current friend. Without her, the book would likely not be a book.

Praise for Wild Work

“These stunning stories lured me in for more, and I read much of this captivating book in one reading – the wonderful tales just continued to unfold, one fascinating tale after another. All are exciting, passionate, and each holds little gems about our precious natural world and our relationship with it.”

—Douglas Smith, editor of Yellowstone Wolves: Science and Discovery in the World’s First National Park

“Camping adjacent to an Arctic wolf pack, following sloths through the canopy of rainforests, hiking into canyons and up mountains … these experiences are the reality of the stars of these remarkable stories—a smorgasbord of adventure and suspense, leading edge research, and physical and mental tests of endurance. In writing enlivened by honest reflection, the biologists share their battles with solitude, tedium, injury, working and living cheek to jowl with fellow team members, and even conducting field work with young children in tow.  Juxtaposed to these challenges are the wondrous joys of being face to face with wolves, grizzlies, condors, harpy eagles, sea turtles, and myriad other creatures. By allowing us to step into their shoes and hearts, these courageous and dedicated women provide access to the wild creatures and ecosystems they are trying to save.”

—Tina Morris, author of Return to the Sky: The Surprising Story of How One Woman and Seven Eaglets Helped Restore the Bald Eagle

Proceeds from Wild Work

I am donating 30% of my proceeds from Wild Work to two outdoor science camps for girls:

1. The Montana Natural History Center, Girls’ STEEM Camp, Missoula. This weeklong day camp introduces middle school girls to natural science and to scientists. A botanist friend from Sophie’s and my grad school days at the U of MT is now running the Center, and the camp is being totally redesigned this year. I donated to camp scholarships.

2. The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Girls in Science Camp, Townsend, TN. In this camp for ages 12-15, girls camp out, explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park, develop a research project, and present their findings to 40-50 people. GSMI’s female staff lead the camp, and scientists go into the field with the girls. Campers pay on a sliding scale starting at just $100.