The Last River Rat

Kenny Salwey's Life in the Wild

Kenny Salwey is a modern-day American hermit who has lived most of his life in the Mississippi river bottoms, coming to know the river ecosystem with an intimacy unavailable to most. Now, Kenny shares his love of, and knowledge about, the mighty river. The Last River Rat is a seasonal look at Kenny’s unique life. Each chapter covers a month of Kenny’s year and starts by detailing his activities—such as deer hunting, ginseng digging, or mushroom picking—and closes with one of Kenny’s own "Rat Tales": his personal thoughts on various aspects of his way of life, such as the importance of dogs or memories of other river rats with whom he has crossed paths. Through Kenny—a true naturalist who provides sage advice about living off the land and protecting the river’s ecology—and The Last River Rat, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the natural world.