One Day at Teton Marsh

"Enter a new and absorbing world ...

"the world of the animals and birds who live in the Teton mountains of Wyoming. This is the world of the patient naturalist, content to watch and record, observe and reflect. This is the world of Sally Carrighar, one of America's best and most deservedly-loved naturalists and writers. Sensitive and wise, Sally Carrighar builds her drama of animals caught in the sudden hostility of winter with sureness and skill, involving the reader in all the perils and pursuits that nature brings."
~~frontispiece

The author's style is to have a short chapter for every animal or insect where the book is located. This book was interesting as it was mostly small animals & insects that had a chapter, with the exception of show more the moose. The day is the autumnal equinox, and many of the animals and insects are getting ready for winter: stocking up on food, finding safe spots to ride out the winter.

However, a large storm from the north topples the dead snag that's the foundation of the beaver dam at one end. Of course the dam is breeched and drains, which is a major catastrophe for many of the ponds inhabitants.

I read her One Day on Beetle Rock and enjoyed it immensely. This one, not so much. I think the difference is in the scale of the animals & insects: this book tended towards the smaller and lesser known: amphibians, leeches, Physa snail, mosquito, mice, etc. However, my heart is in the Grand Tetons since my maternal great-grand uncle was one of the mountain men who helped open the area up. So I'll keep this book, if only for that reason alone. show less

Like One Day on Beetle Rock, this charming nature novel tells of a day's events through the experiences of fourteen different animals. It is set in a marsh at Jackson Hole, Wyoming and based on hours the author spent watching the native wildlife. One Day at Teton Marsh features otters, trout, osprey, mosquitoes, scud, mink, a hare, merganser, moose, leech, frog, snail, trumpeter swan and beaver. The intertwining of storylines is really well done. Not only do you see how each animal experiences the same events but also how closely they relate to and influence each other, even without meaning to. It's fascinating, especially if you like reading about nature.

Original review on Dog Ear Diary

With a richly detail prose rarely found in books today, this classic will fill any nature-lover with joy. I hope they one day re-release it, as they did with 'One Day On Beetle Rock'.