John Bates

John Bates is the author of nine books and a contributor to seven others, all of which focus on the natural history of the Northwoods. He has worked as a naturalist in Wisconsin’s Northwoods for 30 years, leading an array of trips and giving talks all designed to help people further understand the remarkable diversity and beauty of nature, and our place within it. His most recent book is “Our Living Ancestors: The History and Ecology of Old-Growth Forests in Wisconsin and Where to Find Them.” He has served on the board of trustees for the Wisconsin Nature Conservancy, the Wisconsin Humanities Council, and the River Alliance of Wisconsin. He currently serves on the board of the Northwoods Land Trust and the board for the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame. John has an MS in environmental sciences from UW Green Bay. He and his wife, fiber artist Mary Burns, live on the Manitowish River in Iron County where they raised two daughters.