Howard E. Woodin ES Colloquium Series

America’s Snake: The Rise and Fall of the Timber Rattlesnake
Ted Levin, Nature writer, recipient of the 2004 Burroughs Award

During this talk Ted will be discussing his most recent book America’s Snake: The Rise and Fall of the Timber Rattlesnake. This is a book about love—but also about fear, danger, and a long history of misunderstanding. It tells the story of the much-maligned timber rattlesnake, one of the most iconic animals in the American landscape, feared and hunted relentlessly since Pilgrim times and now the focus of sustained—and often contentious—conservation efforts on the part of both working scientists and obsessed, dedicated amateurs. It’s a perfect blend of nature and science, culture and history, travel and journalism—a book in the tradition of a writer like John McPhee, right up to date with its science and packed with anecdotes, adventures, and wild personalities. A former Bronx Zoo zoologist, Ted Levin is the author of a number of books and has written for Sports Illustrated, Audubon, National Wildlife, National Geographic Traveler, and other publications.