Untamed: The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island (18 page)

Carol often wades through swamps to investigate the habitat of alligators, Cumberland’s largest predator.
CAROL RUCKDESCHEL

Carol has studied and protected the island’s imperiled wildlife for forty-two years.

A loggerhead sea turtle crawls ashore to nest.
SASHA GREENSPAN

Hatchlings emerge from their eggs and scamper to the sea.
SASHA GREENSPAN

Only one in 10,000 turtle hatchlings survives to maturity.
SASHA GREENSPAN

A female loggerhead lumbers back to the ocean after nesting in Cumberland’s dunes.
SASHA GREENSPAN

Carol’s field notes are accompanied by exquisitely detailed drawings, including this sketch of a loggerhead turtle hatchling curled in its egg.
CAROL RUCKDESCHEL

Lucy Ferguson, founder of Greyfield Inn, was the matriarch of Cumberland for decades.
CAROL RUCKDESCHEL

Lucy’s granddaughter, Gogo Ferguson, was once Carol’s close
friend—and is now an adversary.

Carol rebuilt her cabin using driftwood. Leaders and lovers have squared off with Carol on her porch.
WILL HARLAN

Greyfield Inn is operated by the Carnegie family on 200 privately owned acres.
EMILY DIZNOFF

Carol, circa 2002, works in her lab.
SASHA GREENSPAN

Carol handles a snake she caught in her chicken coop.