Reviews
"In his 30 years patrolling the Everglades, former wildlife officer Tom Shirley saw his share of panthers and poachers. But it's his tales of tangling with alligators that really gets your skin crawling….When it comes to the Everglades, few people share Shirley's knowledge and perspective."
--Tampa Bay Times
"A vivid account that should be in the collection of any concerned about America' wetland systems and their preservation."
--Midwest Book Review
"A sensitive and at times heart wrenching account of man-made floods, droughts that cause fires, stagnant retention ponds, the run-off of pollutants and deadly toxins that are by-products of intrusive agriculture which had such disastrous effects on the Everglades wetlands and wildlife he had sworn to protect."
--Marsh Rider
"Shirley describes the wetlands and residents' activities with a crystal-clear memory, gently inviting his readers to enter that forgotten and mysterious world."
--The Florida Book Review
“Packed with memories of armed confrontations long stakeouts, tough-talking characters and frantic pursuits… a reader begins to feel as if he or she is listening to Shirley spinning yarns while hunkered down at a sputtering camp fire.”
--Florida Historical Quarterly
“Very well written and supremely engaging, yet informative at the same time… if you are looking for a truly outstanding game warden memoir, I guarantee you will not be disappointed in this one.”
--The Warden's Words