Missouri Conservationist online

Susan Flader teaches environmental, western and Missouri history at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has written or edited six books and numerous articles, including Thinking Like a Mountain (a biographical study of Aldo Leopold) and Exploring Missouri's Legacy: State Parks and Historic Sites. She enjoys canoeing and hiking.

Mitch Jayne occasionally regales Conservationist readers with tales of Zeke Dooley, a man who always has time to "squander" an opinion on just about any topic. This month Mitch offers his own reflections on the wild critters that share the edges of his backyard. Mitch lives in Columbia with his wife, Diana, who provided the illustrations for his article.

Herpetologist Tom R. Johnson has worked for the Conservation Department since 1977. He is the author of the book, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri, which was recently revised. He retired last November but continues to work for the Conservation Department part time. Tom enjoys fly fishing for trout in western states in his spare time.

Fisheries Research Biologist Mike Kruse caught his first trout in 1967 from the waters of Bennett Spring Branch. Since then, trout fishing has taken him across the country, as well as to New Zealand. He makes frequent trout fishing trips to the Ozarks from his home in Boone County, often with his wife and two children, who enjoy fishing, camping and traveling.

Joel M. Vance, who retired from the Conservation Department, brings to the study of nature the keen eye of a hunter. His rural property near Russellville provides plenty of glimpses of wildlife, including hummingbirds. On warm days, Joel, his wife, Marty, and a troop of Brittany spaniels can be found in or around the pond on the family property.