Her voice, critical and courageous, has been heard in the US Congress and the White House, as well as in some of the most remote regions of Alaska and Rwanda. Her work is especially influenced by the arid landscape of Utah, where she lived as a child and adolescent. Her essays focus on ecology, wildlife preservation and women's rights.

Her book of memoirs Refuge (Errata Naturae, 2018) is considered one of the key works of twentieth century ecological literature. She currently lives with her husband, Brooke Williams, in the red rock desert of southern Utah.