The Endangered Species Road Trip : A Summer's Worth of Dingy Motels, Poison Oak, Ravenous Insects, and the Rarest Species in North America

Bill Bryson meets John Vaillant in this life list quest to see the rarest species in North America. Crammed into a minivan with wife, toddler, infant, and dog, accompanied by mounds of toys, diapers, tent, sleeping bags, and other paraphernalia, Cameron MacDonald embarks on a road trip of a lifetime to observe North America's rarest species. In California, the family camps in the brutally hot Mojave, where he observes a desert tortoise—"the size and shape of a bike helmet and the colour of gravel" sitting motionless in the shade of a scrubby sagebush. In Yellowstone, after driving through unseasonal snow, he manages to spot a rare black wolf and numerous grizzlies, which, unfortunately, call forth a crowd of "grizzly gawkers." The journey takes the MacDonald family from British Columbia, along the west coast of the U.S., through the Southwest and Florida, up the east coast of the U.S., and finally to eastern Canada and then back home to BC. Along the way, MacDonald offers fascinating details about the natural history of the endangered species he seeks, as well as threats like overpopulation, commercial fishing, and climate change that are driving them towards extinction. Macdonald Details His Four-month Road Trip Across The U.s. And Canada To Spot Some Of The Endangered Species That Call North America Home. Accompanied By His Wife, Two Children, And The Family Dog, Macdonald Travels From British Columbia, Along The West Coast Of The U.s., Through The Southwest And Florida, Up The East Coast Of The U.s., And Finally To Eastern Canada And Then Back Home To Bc. Along The Way, He Offers Fascinating Details About The Natural History Of The Endangered Species He Seeks, As Well As Threats Like Overpopulation, Commercial Fishing, And Climate Change That Are Driving Them Towards Extinction. Where Have The Owls Gone? -- Flight Of The Phoenix -- Desert Love -- Among The Ancients -- The Loneliest Road -- Restless Nights In Grizzly Country -- Home On The Range -- Twitching For A Rare Bird -- My Old Stomping Grounds -- The Ghost Bird -- The Siren's Song -- Alligator Alley -- The Eastern Seaboard -- Chumming For A Right Whale -- The Long Road Home -- Out Of Place In A Warming World. Cameron Macdonald. Bill Bryson meets John Vaillant in this life list quest to see the rarest species in North America. Crammed into a minivan with wife, toddler, infant, and dog, accompanied by mounds of toys, diapers, tent, sleeping bags, and other paraphernalia, Cameron MacDonald embarks on a road trip of a lifetime to observe North America's rarest species. In California, the family camps in the brutally hot Mojave, where he observes a desert tortoise- "the size and shape of a bike helmet and the colour of gravel" sitting motionless in the shade of a scrubby sagebush. In Yellowstone, after driving through unseasonal snow, he manages to spot a rare black wolf and numerous grizzlies, which, unfortunately, call forth a crowd of "grizzly gawkers." The journey takes the MacDonald family from British Columbia, along the west coast of the U.S., through the Southwest and Florida, up the east coast of the U.S., and finally to eastern Canada and then back home to BC MacDonald details his four-month road trip across the U.S. and Canada to spot some of the endangered species that call North America home. Accompanied by his wife, two children, and the family dog, MacDonald travels from British Columbia, along the west coast of the U.S., through the Southwest and Florida, up the east coast of the U.S., and finally to eastern Canada and then back home to BC. Along the way, he offers fascinating details about the natural history of the endangered species he seeks, as well as threats like overpopulation, commercial fishing, and climate change that are driving them towards extinction.-- Source other than Library of Congress