Book details

  • Genre:fiction
  • Sub-genre:Animals
  • Language:English
  • Pages:184
  • Paperback ISBN:9798350978353

Harrison Hosts a Picnic

A serious skirmish in the illegal wildlife wars

By Allan Larson

Overview


Harrison Watkins appears in this contemporary tale as a prosperous gentleman farmer in the piedmont region of Virginia. He is a respected owner and trainer of falcons, he owns fox hounds and thoroughbred horses, and he is an apparent philanthropist. He has no apparent means to support this type of lifestyle. But...who is he really? The US Fish and Wildlife Service was also wondering what Harrison was up to due to his unsavory group of friends and two past brushes with the Service involving peregrine falcons.
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Description


Drew and Mouse, an ordinary couple, become entangled in an international illegal wildlife trafficking investigation. Drew runs a luxury exotic food business that supplies services to Harrison Watkins, a wealthy Virginia farmer, and prime suspect in the scheme. Both men's wives—Mouse, a Chippewan Indian from Canada, and Harrison's Sioux wife from South Dakota—form a close bond, strengthening the social ties between the couples. Harrison hosts an annual event called the Peregrine Initiative, supposedly to support endangered species. However, many attendees seem more involved in illegal wildlife trafficking, smuggling endangered animals like bears, falcons, and cheetahs. Hester Liu, a USF&WS operative, devises a plan to uncover the identities of the attendees, launching a multi-year investigation spanning continents. The investigation reveals a network of ruthless traffickers and unknowing participants, as Liu's team battles to dismantle the illicit trade.
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About The Author


The author holds a doctorate in geology and paleontology, which earlier led to a career in oil and gas exploration. A lifelong interest and commitment to wildlife conservation and preservation of wild places has grown progressively stronger over time. He has traveled extensively in eastern and southern Africa as a writer, a professional photographer, a birder and a recreational fly fisherman. Allan lives in Colorado with his wife, Jeanne, two dogs and a yard full of well-fed birds and squirrels.
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