Dayton Hyde
Dayton Hyde (born 1925) is an American expository author and proponent of nature conservation.
Most of his books take place in rural, agricultural settings where he has spent the majority of his life. His books advocate an environmentally responsible philosophy of land management. For example, he encourages the use of wild coyotes, rather than toxic chemicals, to control mouse populations.
He was born in Marquette, Michigan, in 1925. At age 13, he began working on his uncle's ranch in Oregon. He fought in World War II in the European campaign. After attending the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in English, he continued work on his uncle's ranch before marrying and starting his own ranch. The couple raised five children there. In the 1950s, one of his photographs of rodeo cowboys was chosen at the LIFE Magazine Picture of the Week.
In 1990, he moved in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where, in addition to writing, he now operates a 11,000 acre sanctuary for wild horses. Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde, a documentary released in 2013, tells the story of his efforts to protect wild horses in the American West.
Notable books
- Home
- Sandy
- Yamsi
- Pasture of Beyond
- Don Coyote
- The Major, the Poacher
- Island of the Loons
- The Bells of Lake Superior
- Mr. Beans
- Life in the Saddle
- Wild Horses
- Where Horses Run Free
- Tributes
- Strange Companion