ABOUT THIS BOOK

Stories about the life of a Forest Ranger, the habitat and animals he has worked to protect, together with no small number of self-effacing humorous anecdotes. This book of stories draws on the author's thirty years in the US Forest service, including encounters with bears, elk, moose, and that strangest of animals, humans. Laced with happy humor, the stories inform and educate while they entertain. Adventures have come along with the work and Griffin is a natural storyteller.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Pete Griffin grew up in the pristine woodlands of northern Michigan, studied forestry and biology in college,and served the US Forest Service his entire career. In semi-retirement, he has become a professional storyteller working on Disney and Princess cruises along the Alaskan coast. Griffin lives with his wife in Juno, Alaska. This is his first book.

REVIEWS

"Griffin masterfully captures the essence of living and working in the woods. He brings the story of his career to life by sharing reflections on the majesty of our national parks, lessons learned, fishes landed, and the family that is our National Forest Service. His easy storytelling style makes these humorous and touching encounters with wolves, eagles, skunks and other wildlife hard to put down."

— Jeff Doyle, Storyteller/Humorist

"I spent an enchanted day with the short stories in Griffin's book,Stories of a Forest Ranger. Pete was a quiet, inquisitive kid in Michigan who spent decades rangering in Alaska. Between these bookends, Pete guides us into the natural world. His written voice has the quality of a forest meadow. Birds call from trees, we experience a breaching whale, skunk whispering, conversations with wolves, trout mania, moose hunting, raven adoptions, beaver patrols, snakes eating toads… All woven with insights into the most curious critters, humans. I marvel at the wonders in Pete’s world."

— Jeff Gere, a storyteller based in Hawaii

"Like a braided stream that crosses and re-crosses a main channel, Pete Griffin's Stories of a Forest Ranger take his readers into the woods of a Michigan childhood filled with curiosity and wonder then carry them along as his professional life and way of seeing and learning unfold. Our guide has the keen eye of a naturalist, the discerning objectivity of a scientist, and the voice of an accomplished storyteller and raconteur. Always ready to reinterpret lessons learned and apply to both his personal and professional life, Pete’s stories are salted with dry humor, and seasoned with a whole lot of heart.
"Life is full of doors," he tells young people. "Don't be afraid to go through them and find out what's on the other side." Open the door to Stories of a Forest Ranger and you’re sure to enjoy what you find inside!"

— Bob Kanegis, author and professional storyteller

"Pete Griffin's book, Stories of a Forest Ranger, organically connects us to the natural world via his personal experiences and through the span of his life. The chapters are infused with heartfelt sentiment and childlike awe. One can understand how Pete became a forest ranger and a storyteller, for he so richly unravels the mysteries of life around us with humor, spot-on descriptions and observations, and best of all, a great appreciation for the wonder of it all."

— Elaine Muray, storyteller & Educator

"Griffin's voice is full of wonder and wisdom that only comes from thinking deeply about the natural world, and about human nature. His voice, both personal and unique, rings through these stories, clear and crisp as a winter morning."

— Steve Daut, President of the Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild and author of Telling Twain

TABLE OF CONTENTS