|Page Turners| Yellowstone DNA by Scott Huber

Last week, I was lucky enough to be able to visit and stay in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. After being surrounded by the incredible landscapes and having read the all of the guides we had, I still wanted to learn more about the national parks. I chose Yellowstone DNA: A Tale of Wolves, Wildlife, and Humans by Scott Huber from a local bookstore in Jackson, Wyoming, thinking that it would be a great way to learn more about Yellowstone, the most iconic of the 63 national parks.

As indicated by the latter part of its title, Yellowstone DNA: A Tale of Wolves, Wildlife, and Humans by Scott Huber explores the relationships found in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Every chapter has a different perspective, from the Shoshoni (also spelled Shoshone) Sheepeaters to wolves, park rangers, and trappers. The characters, some who truly existed and others sprouting from Huber's imagination, all play a different and important role in the delicate environment, so when some of its elements disappear, we are taken on a journey through the ages, following the same characters and their descendants interact with Yellowstone as it takes a turn for the worst.

Do We Want to Turn the Page?

Warning! This next section may contain spoilers about the book. Also, all ratings are based entirely on my opinion and WILL be biased and subjective.

To explain the rating I am going to give this book, I first need to explain what I was looking for when buying the book. As the portion above states, I was searching for some non-fiction that would teach me about Yellowstone, Grand Teton, or any of the other national parks. That is what I thought Yellowstone DNA was until the wolves' and elks' perspectives started appearing. I was both disappointed and surprised that I had stumbled upon a story that was rooted in truth, but was fictive too. I did end up enjoying the parts of the tale that were told by the animals, except that they sounded very human-like. As well, some of the characters truly existed, like Ranger Harry Trischman, Kathy Powell's mentor. However, Powell and her family are fictional characters, making the entire book feel like a very difficult game of what's real and what is not. Ultimately, I did enjoy getting to read such a book, and would rate it an 8 out of 10. The part that I liked least was the ending. It was uplifting and was a true call to action, yet I did not like the idea that it took place in 2031. It all comes down to expectations: Wanting and thinking that this was historical non-fiction, I was disappointed in an end that is neither real nor rooted in truth (yet). I do recommend it as a great introduction into the world of Yellowstone and the wiping out/reintroduction of wolves!

The Blurb:

Wolves created Yellowstone.

From a time beyond memory, their role as keystone predators shaped North America's greatest biological treasure. Known as The American Serengeti, it was truly pristine, the largest intact ecosystem in the western hemisphere. Wolves were the thread that held Yellowstone's tapestry together.

Enter man.

The Mountain Shoshoni revered wolves. Ranchers and hunters reviled them. Park rangers were ordered to shoot them. By 1926 wolves had been systematically eradicated from the park.

For the next seventy years wolves were absent from the ecosystem.

Yellowstone's tapestry unraveled.

Despite years of bitter fighting, wolves were restored to their rightful place in 1995. Their return to Yellowstone prompted an amazing transformation, as the park and its wildlife blossomed anew.

And yet, the battle over reintroduction continues today and beyond.

Each stakeholder in the conflict, human and animal, has a story to tell in this "true history told by fictional characters."

The Author: Scott Huber

Scott Huber has worked as a park ranger, an outdoor educator, and a wildlife tour guide in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. In addition to being an avid birder, he is a lifelong hiker, fisherman and hunter.

Scott was first enchanted by the beautiful songs of gray wolves near Wyoming's Sunlight Basin. In Yellowstone's Lamar Valley. Scott was privileged to experience close encounters with wolves and their pups.

The author and his wife have a cabin located between the Absaroka Mountains and the Wind River Range in northwestern Wyoming. They winter in biodiverse Portal, Arizona.

(From the short bio in Huber's book)