Bruce L. Smith
Children's Fiction Author
Wildlife Biologist
Science Writer
New Children’s Book Series — Legend Keepers
This is home to the award-winning Legend Keepers novels for middle-grade readers (8-12 year-olds and kids my age too!).
In this eco-fiction trilogy, we experience and come to understand, through the eyes and lives of both kids and animal characters, what a warming climate and melting glaciers mean for alpine environments.
This is a story of overcoming obstacles, dealing with loss, and learning the importance of friendships and family. And from a small mountain goat and one twelve-year-old boy we realize that each of us can do something -- and more than we realized -- to make our world better.
Above all, Legend Keepers is an adventure tale of empowerment and hope.
Please scroll down to learn about me and my work.
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BIO
Bruce Smith is a writer and wildlife biologist who lives in southwest Montana. He's an author of nonfiction articles and books of natural history, science, and outdoor adventure. He spent most of his 30-year federal career managing populations of wildlife on the Wind River Indian Reservation and the National Elk Refuge in Wyoming.
His research has produced technical and popular papers focused on large mammal population ecology, diseases, predator-prey relationships, and migratory behavior.
After a combat tour with the US Marines in Vietnam, Bruce earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in wildlife biology. His Master’s research focused on winter ecology of mountain goats in Montana’s Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area. Half-way through his career, he earned a doctorate degree investigating population regulation of Wyoming's Jackson Hole elk herd.
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Writing middle-grade novels with environmental themes that immerse young readers in the natural world is Bruce's current passion.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Speaking Events
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Please reach out to me through my website's Contact page if you would like to schedule:
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a Legend Keepers school visit
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a speaking event related to any of my nonfiction books
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Upcoming Events
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​October 16: Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, MT Presentation titled "Montana's Mountain Goats: A Wilderness Icon" 3-5 pm Event sponsored by Montana State University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
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November 2: Visit to Cottonwood School, Bozeman, MT for discussion of Legend Keepers
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March 5: Visit to Anderson School, Bozeman, MT for discussion of Legend Keepers
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The PBS film, Feeding the Problem, reviews the disease issues surrounding the feeding of thousands of elk in western Wyoming. Through stunning imagery and a powerful narrative, the film explores the social, historical and ecological impacts of Wyoming’s elk feedgrounds.
For more information on how winter feeding of thousands of elk affects the ecology of the Greater Yellowstone Area, I suggest reading the book Where Elk Roam.
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Please click on the image to read the article.