Close your eyes and hear it: the ground-shaking rumble of millions of bison, the sharp calls of pronghorn antelope darting like lightning, gray wolves howling under vast skies. Just two centuries ago, America's Great Plains hosted a wildlife extravaganza that awed even John James Audubon. This unbridged Audible audiobook, American Serengeti: The Last Big Animals of the Great Plains by Dan Flores, pulls you right into that mesmerizing world.
Back then, the Plains weren't the empty grasslands we picture today. Grizzly bears roamed freely, wild horses galloped in packs, coyotes shadowed every herd. Flores, a seasoned naturalist, describes each species with poetic precision—their habits, their sheer numbers, the way they intertwined in a thriving ecosystem. It's like time-traveling to a North American safari, equal to Africa's famed veld.
But the story darkens fast. Market hunters arrived with rifles, slaughtering for hides and tongues. Ranchers saw predators as threats, and the government launched systematic extermination campaigns through the 19th and 20th centuries. Flores doesn't sugarcoat it; he lays out the facts, blending natural history with the human greed that transformed abundance into near-extinction. You'll feel the weight of what we lost—and why echoes of it linger in today's conservation fights.
Narrated smoothly for hours of easy listening, it's perfect for road trips, workouts, or quiet evenings. Flores' voice—wait, no, the professional narration—brings the landscapes alive, making you smell the sagebrush and dust. Gain insights into Plains ecology that sharpen your view of modern wildlife issues, from bison reintroductions to wolf recoveries. It's not just history; it's a lens on our relationship with nature.
Whether you're a history buff, outdoor enthusiast, or armchair explorer, this audiobook delivers the thrill of discovery without leaving home. Dive into American Serengeti and let the Great Plains' wild soul roar back to life in your ears. Around 10 hours of unbridged immersion awaits—your next favorite listen on Audible.
