On July 4, 1776, America's Declaration of Independence was adopted, and we declared our independence from Great Britain.  Yesterday, Americans celebrated Independence Day -- and 233 years of freedom and democracy -- with fireworks, parades, and barbecues. 

We now refer to the radical, revolutionary men that drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence -- as well as others who participated in the American Revolution -- as our founding fathers. 

Reflecting on our nation's founding fathers got me thinking about conservation's founders.  When discussing conservation history in this country, you usually hear names like Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and others. 

And while each of those individuals is an environmental hero, the name I was thinking of -- and the name you rarely hear mentioned -- is George Bird Grinnell. 

Grinnell, a naturalist, outdoorsman, writer, and more, was born in 1849 and died in 1938.  He was an ardent conservationist, and he advocated and fought for many conservation causes in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including, among others, the preservation of buffalo and other wildlife, protection of Yellowstone National Park, and establishment of Glacier National Park.

He particularly loved the American West, and he traveled extensively throughout the region.  He spent a considerable amount of time with Native Americans in the West and wrote widely on his experiences.  He literally saw the West changing forever before him.  (John F. Reiger's The Passing of the Great West: Selected Papers of George Bird Grinnell is an excellent resource on this issue.)

Though the New York Times, in its obituary of Grinnell, noted that he was often referred to as "the father of American conservation," his prominence has faded over the years, which is a shame, because he was a great American and deserves more praise and recognition.  I wrote my Senior Essay in college on Grinnell, and I was amazed at how active and influential his life was.

So, the next time you hear about our country's founding fathers, think of the founders of conservation, and think about George Bird Grinnell, the father of American conservation.

And then wave an American flag, light off a bottle rocket, and have a hot dog and a cold beer.

Happy Independence Day!