David A. Dutton

For over three decades, David Dutton served as an award-winning Park Ranger for two federal agencies. He enjoys fishing, birding, gardening and red chile. He lives in Santa Fe with his wife and two rescue dogs.

Praise for Paid in Sunsets

“One goes into ranger work with the conviction that one will be dealing with nature. The great surprise is that you spend most of your energy dealing with people and the impediments of government organizations, adaptation to which brings out the maximum quirkiness in your co-workers. David Dutton writes with a sharp wit and a deep compassion of the people and situations he dealt with in places as diverse as a northern California seacoast, Kentucky caves, and a Mississippi reservoir. Ever dream of being a park ranger? Dutton gives us an engaging account of what it’s really like.”

-- Jordan Fisher Smith, author of Nature Noir and Engineering Eden

"Kudos to David Dutton for writing this enjoyable and intriguing book. Having myself been a park ranger for the US Army Corps of Engineers for a decade, I found his descriptions of every-day rangering to be spot-on. His use of self-effacing humor, concise prose, and vivid imagery, particularly of the natural world, give the reader a glimpse into the life of a Federal park ranger-its ups, its downs, and all the stuff in between!"

-- Mike Ensch, Chief, Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

"An authentic account of a Park Ranger career. Dave Dutton shares his journey of 30 plus years working in our National Parks. Full of compassion, humor, humility and truimphs - big and small."

-- Nancy Rodgers, Park Ranger, National Park Service & Corps of Engineers

"If you ever thought of becoming a Park Ranger for the glamour and the wonder, you will enjoy this very funny romp about being one. Dutton is humble, and his descriptions of the natural world, which he shared with visitors, are as informative as they are side-splitting."

-- Rebecca Miner, Park Ranger, US Army Corps of Engineers

"Ranger Dave's book is a familiar tale to those of us fortunate enough to have worn the green and gray. He is a gifted storyteller and the book is part memoir and part love story. If you like inspiring and funny tales, you will enjoy this book, and if you have never worked as a park ranger, I encourage you to read it. Then you will understand what the job is all about!"

-- J. Patrick Barry, Supervisory Park Ranger, National Park Service & Corps of Engineers