"David Petersen is a careful man in the forest.
He moves unobtrusively and lusts to be alone. Bears have walked right by him unawares. Elk have approached so close he could have reached out and touched their muzzles or antlers. His compassion for wild territory is close to unique. The fact that he can write so intimately and convincingly about wild country and animals makes him one of our more interesting literary figures. His observations are scientific, lyrical, from the heart. His clear, direct, and often humorous prose is imbued with much knowledge, many marvels, and occasional outrage. His writing is also rich with mystery and soul. Over the years, Petersen's body of work, steeped in a personal natural history and conservation ethic, has helped explain the American West. His work transcends science and even literature: it is polemic for survival."
               — John Nichols