Jacob Valentine II – Wildlife Biologist

Jake Valentine dedicated his life to protecting endangered species, most famously the Mississippi sandhill crane.

Jacob (Jake) Valentine II, often called the “father” of the first wildlife refuge in Mississippi, devoted his life to protecting endangered species, especially the rare Mississippi sandhill crane. His work stopped extinction, created a refuge, and left a legacy of conservation that still protects wildlife today.

Jake Valentine was born in 1917 in Racine, Wisconsin, into a large Danish family struggling during the Great Depression. At times, they were even homeless, living on an island off Lake Michigan. These years of survival taught Jake how to live close to nature and gave him a deep love for wildlife. The loss of his mother on Christmas Day in 1933 made life even harder, and Jake took responsibility for helping support his younger brothers and sisters.

After finishing high school, Jake joined President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Tree Army,” the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He traveled across the country planting trees, restoring land, and improving parks. Sleeping in tents and exploring forests, Jake became even more at home in the outdoors and saw firsthand the importance of protecting the environment.

When World War II broke out, Jake enlisted in the U.S. Army as a telecommunications engineer. One day in the Pacific, his battalion was attacked by Japanese forces while relaxing in a river. Many soldiers could not swim. Jake and another soldier risked their lives, swimming back and forth under gunfire to rescue their injured comrades. For his bravery, Jake was awarded the Silver Star, one of the nation’s highest military honors.

After the war, Jake decided to dedicate his life to studying and protecting wildlife. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in zoology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he learned about the harmful effects of human activity on natural habitats. During this time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was expanding, and Jake soon joined as a wildlife biologist.

In the 1970s, Jake became the regional wildlife biologist for the Gulf Coast, where he made his home for the next 39 years. It was there that he encountered the bird that would define his life’s work: the Mississippi sandhill crane. With its bright red head, tall five-foot frame, and wide wingspan, the crane was striking, but also in danger. By the time Jake began his work, only 35 cranes remained in the wild. Because they mated for life, produced very few eggs, and never migrated beyond the Gulf Coast, the destruction of their habitat nearly guaranteed extinction.

Jake realized that saving the crane meant saving its land. But in the 1970s, construction of U.S. Interstate 10 threatened to destroy the wet pine savanna that was the crane’s only home. Jake campaigned fiercely writing articles, testifying in court, and urging leaders to think about the future. In 1975, the fight became known as the “Lanes vs. Cranes” controversy. Jake’s testimony in the case helped stop the highway project from wiping out the savanna and became the first major test of the new Endangered Species Act. His work helped establish a legal precedent that endangered animals must have their habitats protected, not just the species themselves.

Thanks to Jake’s leadership, more than 2,000 acres were set aside to create the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. Over time, the refuge grew to protect more than 19,000 acres. Jake continued his research and remained active at the refuge even after retirement. By the time of his death in 2001, the crane population had grown to more than 110 birds. Today, that number continues to rise, and each bird is a living symbol of Jake Valentine’s courage and dedication.

Jake Valentine lived a life of service from saving fellow soldiers during the war to saving endangered species from extinction. His perseverance, optimism, and love for nature left behind a living legacy, proving how one person can change the future for generations of people and wildlife alike.

References:
“Hovering on the Edge of Existence.” National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2005/Hovering-on-the-Edge-of-Existence.
“Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge.” FWS.Gov, www.fws.gov/refuge/mississippi-sandhill-crane/about-us.

Key words:
Civil Rights, Justice, Courage, Perseverance, Responsibility, Repair the World – Tikkun Olam, Challenge Injustices, Make a Difference

Explore ARTEFFECT projects about this Unsung Hero:
Jacob Valentine II Artworks