Doug Alderson - Americas Alligator: A Popular History of Our Most Celebrated Reptile

Doug Aldersons fascination with the American alligator began as a child when he heard about how his great-grandfather jumped ship in Apalachicola, Florida, around 1900 and began hunting alligators along the many wild rivers, sloughs, and bays of the region. As a young adult, Doug began exploring the Florida wild in a canoe and later a kayak and enjoyed watching alligators in their natural habitats. His visits to the Souths many alligator attractions and witnessing Seminole alligator wrestling left lasting impressions.

Dougs love for the outdoors and cultural history prompted a writing career that has spanned decades. He is the author of several books, including Wild Florida Waters, The Great Florida Seminole Trail, Waters Less Traveled, New Dawn for the Kissimmee River, Encounters with Floridas Endangered Wildlife, and A New Guide to Old Florida Attractions: From Mermaids to Singing Towers, which the Florida Writers Association placed in the top five of published books for 2017. He has won four first-place Royal Palm Literary awards for travel books and several other state and national writing and photography awards. Additionally, his articles and photographs have been featured in magazines such as Sea Kayaker, Coast and Kayak, Wildlife Conservation, Native Peoples, American Forests, Sierra, Mother Earth News, and A.T. Journeys.

He is also an adventurer, having hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, coordinated a group walk across the United States, backpacked through Europe, and mapped a 1,500-mile sea kayaking trail around Florida. He received the inaugural Environmental Service Award by Paddle Florida in 2015 for conspicuous commitment, unflagging dedication and love of Floridas natural environment.

For more information, log on to www.dougalderson.net.

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