Discover all the unexpected nature Dallas-Fort Worth has to offer with this enlightening guidebook! Dallas-Fort Worth is more than just a bustling metroplex, it’s full of amazing wildlife. You just need to know where to find it! Equal parts natural history, field guide, and trip planner, Wild DFW has something for everyone. This handy yet extensive guide looks at the factors that shape local nature and profiles over 100 local species, from American basket-flowers and pecan trees to bald eagles, nine-banded armadillos, and Texas spiny lizards. Twenty-five day trips help you find and explore these natural wonders on hiking trails, in public parks, and in your own backyard. “The perfect regional field guide, Wild DFW  highlights the 25 best wilderness spots to explore in North Texas.”― D Magazine “More than a book about landscape, Wild DFW showcases a community of people devoted to preserving nature.” ― Natural Awakenings "North Texas’ natural landscape and ecological makeup are being brought to light in Wild DFW .” ― Lake Highlands Advocate “Finding and embracing the natural elements in a city like Dallas can be foreboding, but Amy Martin…is aiming to change that.”― Dallas Observer "There's no real nature in North Texas." Oh really? Hardwood bottomland forests. Well-preserved swaths of the "cast iron forest" of Eastern Cross Timbers. Soaring limestone escarpments and quizzical cuestas. Vast wetlands and swamps. Rich riparian corridors along rivers and large creeks. Rare remnants of wildflower-filled Blackland and Fort Worth Prairies. Three immense preserves from 2600 to 3600 acres, plus the 6000-acre Great Trinity Forest. Two large lake-based state parks. A huge national wildlife refuge for water-loving birds. North Central Texas has all this and more.  Travel down the many forks of the Trinity River—Clear, East, Elm, and West—and their reservoirs to discover the watery roadmap that shapes our terrain and is home to a 127-mile-long nationally recognized paddling trail. North Central Texas is an ecotone that transitions the eastern deciduous forest into the western plains. Its astounding ecological diversity arises from many tilted bedrock layers ranging from 75 to 350 million years old, the multitude of soil types which that generates, and the wide-ranging flora those foster. The river ties it all together.  Wild DFW's  front section on natural history and ecology also covers: The wild ways of nature after dark. - Geology forged by an ancient inland sea. - Invasive species that threaten the region's ecology. - How to turn your backyard into a nature sanctuary. - Epic migrations of birds and insects through the area. - Native wildlife and the native flora that sustains them. - The citizen scientists who are surveying nature for further study. - Weather accentuated by tornadoes, ice storms, drought, and floods. - Urban creeks that provide an entry to nature for many, especially children.  Wild DFW  includes a field guide detailing over 120 species of interesting animals, insects, and plants, with fascinating facts and tidbits for regaling your friends. These flora and fauna populate the astounding adventures section covering 25 of North Texas's finest nature parks and preserves. Read about the author's hikes through these spaces, led by volunteers and managers who know the land the best and share their inspiring stories. Gain insight into North Texas as never before while enjoying practical tips and complete information for exploring these outdoor treasures. Amy Martin, a lifelong Texan, has forged a varied career in journalism, laced with activism and leadership, and infused with a deep spirituality and concern for the earth. A journalist and writer for over thirty-five years, she is the author of Itchy Business and Holy Smoke . She is currently senior features writer for GreenSourceDFW . Prior to that, she was contributing editor for the national magazine Garbage and has written for Dallas Morning News , Dallas Observer , D magazine, and the Dallas Times Herald .