"(Wilted Wings is) built of personal experiences in both hunting game animals and rehabilitating poisoned eagles ... it thrills like an adventure story, engages like a novel, and paints images like our finest nature writing." —Big Sky Journal
“In McTee’s brilliant,
heart-breaking first book, he illustrates through personal accounts of his
experience with birds of prey, that lead poisoning is an ongoing problem and
taking a terrible toll. I highly recommend Wilted Wings to all
naturalists and hunters.”
—Stephen Bodio, author of An
Eternity of Eagles
“I had never considered how lead makes its way from successful big game hunts and into the bloodstreams of these majestic raptors, eventually debilitating or killing them in an excruciating manner. In a mere 146 pages, McTee lays out this hiding-in-plain-sight issue, explains how we got here, and offers some reasonable, doable solutions that could solve the problem. I predict that years from now, we’ll look back on McTee's book as the catalyst for bolstering the populations of these iconic birds.” —Ed Roberson, founder of Mountain & Prairie
“I wish I could put McTee’s book in the hands of every hunter and bird conservationist.” —Matt Miller, Cool Green Science
"Wilted Wings brings us into
the mountains pursuing big game. As a scientist and one of the nation's leaders
in the fight for switching to non-lead ammo, McTee studies pathways by which
raptors and other scavengers are exposed to lead. In this page-turning memoir,
Wilted Wings provides the undeniable solution to lead poisoning in
raptors." — Vince Slabe, Ph.D., Wildlife Biologist and Science.org
contributing author
"Wilted Wings is the most comprehensive and readable
explanation I’ve found on the science of lead poisoning in raptors and other
scavengers, and on why hunters should consider switching to nontoxic
bullets, as I did several years ago. Highly recommended for anyone interested
in how modern hunters are leading our nation’s conservation efforts."
—Tom Dickson, Editor, Montana
Outdoors, the Magazine of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
“Now, more than ever, it is imperative that hunters understand the technical, ecological, and social consequences associated with their choice of hunting ammunition. McTee explains why, in simple but technically understandable terms, switching to nonlead bullets is good for conservation, good for hunting, and good for people. Thoughtful hunters are well-served by McTee's research.”
—Gordon R. Batcheller, Certified Wildlife Biologist and President of The Wildlife Society
"A heartfelt call to action,
Wilted Wings makes the compelling case that our choices matter—for humans, our
winged fellow hunters, and many other wild species. Hunting lead-free is a win
for us all."
—Tovar Cerulli, author
of The Mindful Carnivore: A Vegetarian's Hunt for Sustenance
“Follow Mctee across the Montana
landscape as he chases his winged companions to learn the negative effects that
humans and hunters are having on these animals. It’s a story of accountability
and the pursuit of what is right instead of what is easy. I hope this book
inspires you to stand up for something you believe in the way it did for me.
After all, what could be more patriotic in this country than saving countless
eagles along the way.” —Adam Brown, Outside Bozeman
“(McTee) 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 … Wilted Wings is a
cautionary tale, a call to action, and, ultimately, a story of hope.” —Montana
Naturalist
"Wilted Wings was painstakingly written to appeal to a wide audience. The story will grip hunters, non-hunters, scientists, non-scientists, raptorphiles, or even the casual raptor fan alike. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the ongoing struggle to account for and manage lead in our environment." —Journal of Raptor Research
