What are old-growth forests? How did European settlement of Wisconsin change our landscape and what remains of our ancient forests? In this edition of Perpetual Notion Machine, host Patrick Sajbel speaks with John Bates, naturalist and author of nine books on Wisconsin.

John spent over 30 years in research of the ecosystems of Northern Wisconsin, served on the Board of the Nature Conservancy, and has a Masters Degree in Environmental Science from UW Green Bay. He is a regular speaker at Canoecopia, and runs guided trips in the North.

He spent 15 years tracking down old-growth forests around the state while writing his most recent book “Our Living Ancestors: The History and Ecology of Old-growth Forests in Wisconsin (And Where to Find Them)”.  John joins us today from his home in Mercer, WI.