Keeping It Wild: Practical Ways to Protect Wildlife, Restore Habitat, and Leave a Legacy for Future Generations

The Red River Gorge is more than a destination—it is one of America's greatest natural treasures. Ancient cliffs, hidden caves, winding streams, towering forests, and an astonishing diversity of wildlife have shared this landscape for millions of years. Their future now rests in our hands.
In Keeping It Wild, acclaimed naturalist and wildlife biologist Dan Dourson draws on more than forty years of field experience to show how anyone can make a lasting difference. Whether you own a large woodland, a small backyard, or simply love wild places, you'll discover practical, affordable ways to restore habitat, attract wildlife, improve forests and meadows, protect streams and caves, reduce chemical use, enrich soil, and help native plants flourish.
Blending science with storytelling, Dourson reveals that every fallen tree shelters life, every wildflower supports a web of creatures, and every thoughtful action leaves a legacy.

This is more than a conservation guide. It is a call to become a steward of the land and to ensure that the Red River Gorge remains as wild, beautiful, and alive for future generations as it is today.
Because the greatest gift we can leave the next generation is not a world with more possessions—but a world that is still wonderfully wild.

While this book was designed for the Red River Gorge of Kentucky, its principals and suggestions apply universally to any homeowner who seeks to give back to nature.