Wildlife in the Eastern U.S. Are Making a Comeback

Book Review: How Wildlife Is Returning to the East

By Richard Schiffman When the first European settlers arrived on the east coast of North America in the 16th century, they found a land filled with astounding natural wonders and biological richness. Herds of elk and packs of wolves roamed through old-growth forests, and flocks of geese and sandhill cranes filled the air with raucous cries during their seasonal migrations. Salmon in vast numbers swam up the Connecticut River to spawn, the New J…

Wildlife in the Eastern US Are Making a Comeback

The best-known wildlife recoveries in the U.S. are often associated with the West. Yet some important gains have occurred east of the Mississippi, among cities, roads, farms, and landscapes altered over several centuries. Andrew Moore’s new book, Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness, examines the decline and partial return of animals that once occupied the region in abundance. Before European settlement and large…

Wildlife in the Eastern US Are Making a Comeback - Organic Consumers

Wildlife in the Eastern US Are Making a ComebackAugust 10, 2026 | Source: Mongabay | by Rhett Ayers Butler The best-known wildlife recoveries in the U.S. are often associated with the West. Yet some important gains have occurred east of the Mississippi, among cities, roads, farms, and landscapes altered over several centuries. Andrew Moore’s new book, Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness, examines the decline and…

Wildlife in the eastern U.S. are making a comeback

Founder's Briefs: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis, perspectives and story summaries. The best-known wildlife recoveries in the U.S. are often associated with the West. Yet some important gains have occurred east of the Mississippi, among cities, roads, farms, and landscapes altered over several centuries. Andrew Moore's new book, Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America's Eastern Wilderness,…