Theodore Roosevelt was not born in the west to a family that cared deeply about conservation, he found his love for the environment on his own. Born in New York City, Roosevelt was diagnosed with asthma at a young age and had a weak heart. He studied at Harvard and after his marriage in 1880, he took an interest in politics where he became a representative for the republican party in 1882. In 1883, due to his weak heart, he took some time to recuperate on a hunting trip in the Dakota territory. He got into ranching while he was there, and after the tragedy in 1884 where his wife and mother died on the same day, he retreated to his ranch for a year.
In that year he spent his time ranching his cattle, hunting, fishing, and growing closer to nature. Upon returning to New York a year later, he was a true man of the western people, and a lover of the environment.
In 1887 Roosevelt, worked with other hunters, conservationists, and preservationists to create the Boone and Crockett Club, which would advocate for the conservation of wildlife in the name of maintaining hunting numbers.
After he became president, Theodore Roosevelt advocated for both Preservation and Conservation groups.
He visited Yosemite with John muir in 1903. Where John Muir tried to sell him on preservation in a time where ideas of Conservation and Preservation were butting heads.
At the request of his old friend Frank Chapman, Theodore Roosevelt created the first wildlife preserve Pelican Island which unlike national forests or parks had the primary goal of protecting wildlife. This was done at a time where the Passenger pigeon numbers were falling rapidly, and egret hunting was common for fashion.
Throughout his presidency, he traveled the country erecting national parks in the name of protecting the natural land, and to maintain natural resources.