Ernest Thompson Seton: The Life and Legacy of an Artist and Conservationist
In 1893, on the winter plains of New Mexico, a drama played out between a wolf pack and a wolf hunter named Ernest Thompson Seton. The wolves lost in the struggle, but in an unexpected way they prevailed by changing the spirit of the man. Seton experienced a personal transformation, putting the best of what he had learned to work in the world.Seton became one of the first great proponents for wildlife conservation. He invented the literary genre of the realistic animal story. He established important principles for the sciences of animal behavior and ecology. As a master illustrator and best-selling author he reached an international audience of millions. His passion for self-reliance ethics and outdoor youth education led him to co-found the worldwide Boy Scout movement.Seton's insights sparked a revolution in our perceptions of wild nature, provided a model for environmentalism, and inspired generations of youth and adults to take to the outdoors for recreation, adventure, and solace.David L. Witt is Curator and Director of the Seton Legacy Project for the Academy for the Love of Learning, an educational organization in Santa Fe. A lifelong naturalist, he lives with his partner, Bonnie, and their dogs in Taos, New Mexico.