author
Russell K. Grater
A longtime National Park Service naturalist and interpreter, he wrote practical guides that helped visitors notice the wildlife, landscapes, and stories of the American West. His work blends field knowledge with a teacher’s instinct for making nature feel close and vivid.
1 Audiobook
Mammals of Mount Rainier National Park
by Merlin K. Potts, Russell K. Grater
About the author
Born in Indiana in 1907, he studied at Wabash College and Yale before building a career as a naturalist with the National Park Service. An oral history at UNLV and his obituary both describe a life shaped early by the outdoors, especially an interest in birds and natural history.
His writing grew out of that hands-on experience. He is known for works including The Interpreter's Handbook, a National Park Service–related guide to methods and skills for interpretation, as well as nature titles such as Snakes, Lizards & Turtles of the Lake Mead Region and Mammals of Mount Rainier National Park.
He lived a remarkably long life, dying in January 2008 at the age of 100. Across his books, articles, and park work, he helped generations of readers and visitors look more carefully at the natural world and understand it with curiosity rather than distance.