Book Review:
Wilted Wings: A Hunter’s Fight for Eagles by Mike McTee
Reviewed by Allison De Jong
In his book, biologist and hunter Mike McTee brings readers up close and personal with those most iconic of North American birds: eagles. Unfortunately, however, this isn’t always a rosy experience, since many of the eagles he comes across are suffering—and, in too many cases, dying—from lead poisoning.
As a hunter who formerly used lead bullets without thinking twice, Mike shares his shift in understanding as he saw firsthand the effects lead has on wild creatures in the ecosystem. (Hint: it’s not pretty.) As a wildlife researcher with MPG Ranch in the Bitterroot Valley, he began studying scavenger ecology and investigating how bullets fragment inside of an animal’s body. He reached out to raptor ecologists across the country, gathering stories and research, and, armed with new information, began writing and educating about lead-free bullets.
As Mike weaves together eagle encounters, research, hunting stories, and history, juxtaposing human stories with those of wild animals, we get to see not only his love for the animals he studies, but the intricate layers of interdependency: how beautifully wild creatures are connected with each other and their landscapes. We also get to see how they’re affected—not so beautifully—by humans. Perhaps most importantly, we get to see how we can help.
Wilted Wings is a cautionary tale, a call to action, and, ultimately, a story of hope.
