Paul Rezendes used to bust the heads of other gangbangers, but then he became an expert animal tracker. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, how the wilderness saved this tough guy. Also, renowned nature writer Peter Matthiessen describes his travels around the world in search of rare cranes.

Journalist Mark Hertsgaard just spent six years traveling around the world toting a backpack and living low on the food chain. He tells Judith Strasser that environmental issues are life or death matters for much of the world's population. Hertsgaard is the author of "Earth Odyssey."

Peter Matthiessen is equally celebrated as a novelist and nature writer. His books include "The Snow Leopard," "Killing Mr. Watson," and "At Play in the Fields of the Lord." He's working on a book about cranes and tells Jim Fleming how he got interested in the species. He's been searching the world for rare cranes for some ten years. Also, nature writer David Quammen tells Steve Paulson why he loves fly fishing, and why he gave it up. Quammen's books include "Wild Thoughts from Wild Places" and "The Song of the Dodo."

Paul Rezendes is an expert animal tracker. He tells Steve Paulson that learning to track is really a matter of learning to see; explains how he became a street fighter and motorcycle gang leader and why he quit that life; and recounts the hilarious story of the night a bear turned up in his Adirondack campground.

Distribution dates:

• week of 02/28/99 - hour 2