Badges, Bears, and Eagles : The True-Life Adventures of a California Fish and Game Warden

Over his 30 years as a wildlife protection officer for the California Department of Fish and Game, Steve Callan and his working partner, Dave Szody, conducted some of the most fascinating, complex and highly successful wildlife investigations in California history. They also collected a wealth of true stories—action-packed, suspenseful and often humorous. hunting,california,fishing,fish and game,wildlife protection "This engrossing memoir by debut author Callan lets readers in on highlights of his 30-year career as a California wildlife officer" ( Publishers Weekly , starred review). Over his thirty-year career as a wildlife protection officer for the California Department of Fish and Game, Steve Callan and his longtime working partner, Dave Szody, conducted some of the most fascinating, complex, and highly successful wildlife investigations in California history. They also collected a wealth of true stories—action-packed, suspenseful, and often humorous. In Badges, Bears, and Eagles , Steve provides a vivid first-person account of his "jaw-dropping, funny, tragic, enraging, exciting, and hopeful" adventures ( Publishers Weekly , starred review). The author and his colleagues outsmart game hogs, thwart fish thieves, and foil outlaws with names like "Squeaky." Steve is even stalked by African lions and mauled by a five-hundred-pound Bengal tiger. One of the most important cases of his career begins with a slain bald eagle dropped on the doorstep of the Fish and Game office, along with a note threatening the life of a fellow warden. A decade later, Steve and Dave conduct the investigation of their lives, uncovering a statewide criminal conspiracy to kill California black bears for their valuable gall bladders. These and other fascinating stories make for a truly unique, "exceptionally well written" memoir of conservation that "is almost flawless, and reading this gem is pure effortless joy" ( International Game Warden ). 2013 "Book of the Year" finalist, ForeWord Reviews Over his thirty-year career as a wildlife protection officer for the California Department of Fish and Game, Steve Callan and his longtime working partner, Dave Szody, conducted some of the most fascinating, complex and highly successful wildlife investigations in California history. Callan also collected a wealth of true stories--action-packed, suspenseful and often humorous. In Badges, Bears, and Eagles, Callan provides a vivid first-person account of his adventures. The author and his colleagues outsmart game hogs, thwart fish thieves, and foil outlaws with names like "Squeaky." Steve is even stalked by African lions and mauled by a five-hundred pound Bengal tiger. One of the most important cases of his career begins with a slain bald eagle dropped on the doorstep of the Fish and Game office, along with a note threatening the life of a fellow warden. A decade later, Steve and Dave conduct the investigation of their lives, uncovering a statewide criminal conspiracy to kill California black bears for their valuable gall bladders. It's not all about catching bad guys. In "Saving Lake Mathews," Steve chronicles how he helped save a beloved wildlife sanctuary from development. "Over his thiry-year career as a wildlife protection officer for the California Department of Fish and Game, Steve Callan and his longtime working partner, Dave Szody, conducted some of the most fascinating, complex, and highly successful wildlife investigations in California history.... In 'Badges, Bears, and Eagles,' Steve provides a vivid first-person account of his adventures. The author and his colleagues outsmart game hogs, thwart fish thieves, and foil outlaws with names like 'Squeaky.' Steve is even stalked by African lions and mauled by a five-hundred pound Bengal tiger. One of the most important cases of his career begins with a slain bald eagle dropped on the doorstep of the Fish and Game office, along with a note threatening the life of a fellow warden. A decade later, Callan and Szody conduct the investigation of their lives, uncovering a statewide criminal conspiracy to kill California black bears for their valuable gallbladders. It's not all about catching bad guys--in' Saving Lake Mathews,' Steve chronicles how he helped save a beloved wildlife sanctuary from developers."--Cover.  During his thirty-year career as a wildlife protection officer for the California Department of Fish and game, Steve Callan, conducted some of the most fascinating, complex and highly successful wildlife investigations in California history. He also collected a wealth of action-packed, suspenseful and often humorous true stories.  He and his colleagues outsmarted game hogs, thwarted fish thieves, and foiled outlaws. Callan was even stalked by African lions and mauled by a five-hundred pound Bengal tiger. One of the most important cases of his career began with a slain bald eagle dropped on the doorstep of the Fish and Game office, along with a note threatening the life of a fellow warden. A decade later, Callan and his working partner Dave Szody conducted an investigation which uncovered a statewide criminal conspiracy to kill California black bears for their valuable gall bladders. It’s not all about catching bad guys, it’s also about conservation—in “Saving Lake Mathews,” Steve chronicles how he helped save a beloved wildlife sanctuary from developers.