Before They're Gone - by Mark Kenyon (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An examination of today's biodiversity crisis, foregrounding the wisdom of the hunters and anglers who best understand the threats America's fish and wildlife face today

American wildlife is in crisis.

For centuries, millions of buffalo roamed the plains; trout and salmon filled rivers from bank to bank; and elk, bears, and deer thrived from sea to shining sea. Now, many of our nation's species are in rapid decline. Amid this "sixth mass extinction," conventional approaches to environmental activism have not worked.

To save America's wildlife, we must turn to the unconventional wisdom of the hunters and anglers who are on the front lines of the biodiversity crisis, working tirelessly to protect the animals that sustain their communities. Mark Kenyon, an outdoorsman himself, embarks on a journey through wild terrains from Florida to Alaska, getting up close and personal with America's most charismatic and threatened fish and wildlife, and the men and women fighting to save them. Through backcountry fishing trips, high alpine hunts, tropical snorkeling excursions, and more, Kenyon maps a route toward a better future for fish and wildlife in America.

A grand adventure, both urgent and inspiring, Before They're Gone shows us how to rekindle a deep connection to the natural world and commit ourselves to concrete action in defense of it.

Review Quotes

"To some, it may seem paradoxical that hunters and anglers are the most effective conservationists of America's wildlife. But it's not, as Mark Kenyon's important book brilliantly demonstrates. We protect what we love. And what we love needs more protection than ever. Before They're Gone is the clarion call the nation desperately needs." --Monte Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Lords of the Fly

About the Author

Mark Kenyon is the director of conservation for MeatEater, Inc., and the author of That Wild Country. He is a lifelong outdoorsman and hosts the podcasts Future Wild and Wired to Hunt, as well as several television and film series. He sits on the national board of directors for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and the National Deer Association. He lives with his wife and two sons in Montana.