Arkansas Wildlife

Lavishly illustrated with black and white photographs, this book tells the story of the state's wildlife in a historical and national context. It describes the resident species, their environments, early conservation efforts to save them, and the attitudes of those who sought -- whether for subsistence, profit, or recreation -- to make use of Arkansas's natural resources. From the rampant exploitation of game animals and wildfowl in the early days of settlement, along with unrestricted harvest of the state's timber that destroyed habitat, through the gradual realization by conservationists and politicians that these resources must be managed properly, to the enforcement of protective measures by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, a change in the state's consciousness is documented. Prominent in the telling are the many advances made in wildlife management since World War II on the state's lakes and streams, refuges, and public hunting grounds. An impressive list of the rich fauna of present-day Arkansas, and current conservation efforts on their behalf, closes this well-written volume.