American River Wildlife News

Before he moved to Sacramento's River Park neighborhood in 1949, before he began advocating for the creation of the American River Parkway and cementing his reputation as one of the most respected naturalists around, Elmer Aldrich was something of a hired killer.

Aldrich, 93, who as a child collected bird cards from the boxes of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, landed a job as a junior biologist with the state Department of Fish and Game in the back country outside Santa Barbara. It was 1940 and he had just earned his master's degree at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied zoology, biology and botany. He needed the money -- $165 a month -- and had already decided he was too broke to pursue a Ph.D.

Leading a staff of five, including a lion hunter, Aldrich studied the relationship of predators and the deer population. His forays into the wilderness included camping, rigorous hiking and mountain climbing. Along the way, he developed into a photographer and became friends with Ansel Adams, the biggest name in American nature photography.

More at the Sacramento Bee.

• March 6, 2007, 9:55 am - Bruce

  Here are even more reasons to oppose this boondoggle in my Auburn Dam Information Directory.
  

• February 25, 2007, 4:49 pm - Bruce

  The politicians and wealthy landowners who would profit from a dam project will never give up. We will need to remain vigilant to ensure that this porkbarrel project is never built.
  Auburn Dam - High Costs and High Risks.
  

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