The Hidden Life of Deer - by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas (Paperback)

About the Book

In The Hidden Life of Deer, "Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Dogs, turns her attention to wild deer, and the many lessons we can learn by observing nature. A narrative masterpiece and a naturalist's delight, The Hidden Life of Deer "is based on the twelve months Thomas, a renowned anthropologist, spent studying the local deer population near her home in New Hampshire.

Book Synopsis

"Through the eyes of this extraordinary woman, a reader slowly loses view of 'the wild' and instead begins to see individual creatures. It's as if we're granted access to an extended family that includes deer, bears, turkeys, and all the wild things of New England. The Hidden Life of Deer is a glorious achievement, giving new meaning to what it is both to be human and to be alive on this planet of wonders." --New York Review of Books

In The Hidden Life of Deer, renowned anthropologist Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, the New York Times bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Dogs, turns her attention to wild deer, and the many lessons we can learn by observing nature.

The animal kingdom operates by ancient rules, and the deer in our woods and backyards can teach us many of them--but only if we take the time to notice. In the fall of 2007 in southern New Hampshire, the acorn crop failed and the animals who depended on it faced starvation. Elizabeth Marshall Thomas began leaving food in small piles around her farmhouse. Soon she had over thirty deer coming to her fields, and her naturalist's eye was riveted. How did they know when to come, all together, and why did they sometimes cooperate, sometimes compete?

Throughout the next twelve months she observed the local deer families as they fought through a rough winter; bred fawns in the spring; fended off coyotes, a bobcat, a bear, and plenty of hunters; and made it to the next fall when the acorn crop was back to normal. As she hiked through her woods, spotting tree rubbings, deer beds, and deer yards, she discovered a vast hidden world. Deer families are run by their mothers. Local families arrange into a hierarchy. They adopt orphans; they occasionally reject a child; they use complex warnings to signal danger; they mark their territories; they master local microclimates to choose their beds; they send countless coded messages that we can read, if only we know what to look for.

Just as she did in her beloved books The Hidden Life of Dogs and Tribe of Tiger, Thomas describes a network of rules that have allowed earth's species to coexist for millions of years. Most of us have lost touch with these rules, yet they are a deep part of us, from our ancient evolutionary past. The Hidden Life of Deer is a narrative masterpiece and a naturalist's delight.

From the Back Cover

The animal kingdom operates by ancient rules, and the deer in our woods and backyards can teach us many of them--but only if we take the time to notice.

In the fall of 2007 in southern New Hampshire, the acorn crop failed and the animals who depended on it faced starvation. Elizabeth Marshall Thomas began leaving food in small piles around her farmhouse. Soon she had over thirty deer coming to her fields, and her naturalist's eye was riveted. How did they know when to come, all together, and why did they sometimes cooperate, sometimes compete?

Throughout the next twelve months she observed the local deer families as they fought through a rough winter; bred fawns in the spring; fended off coyotes, a bobcat, a bear, and plenty of hunters; and made it to the next fall when the acorn crop was back to normal. As she hiked through her woods, spotting tree rubbings, deer beds, and deer yards, she discovered a vast hidden world. Deer families are run by their mothers. Local families arrange into a hierarchy. They adopt orphans; they occasionally reject a child; they use complex warnings to signal danger; they mark their territories; they master local microclimates to choose their beds; they send countless coded messages that we can read, if only we know what to look for.

Just as she did in her beloved books The Hidden Life of Dogs and Tribe of Tiger, Thomas describes a network of rules that have allowed earth's species to coexist for millions of years. Most of us have lost touch with these rules, yet they are a deep part of us, from our ancient evolutionary past. The Hidden Life of Deer is a narrative masterpiece and a naturalist's delight.

Review Quotes

"In this slim and amiable book Ms. Thomas gathers a pile of small, not uninteresting observations about deer, and in doing so she subtly alters the way you look at them in a forest or from a window." -- New York Times

"Elizabeth Marshall Thomas has written a compelling description of the lives of deer (and turkeys, bears, and other species with which she shares her farm). The relationship of these animals to their world teaches us the lessons of the Old Way, lessons we often forget amid the stresses of modern society." -- Dr. Irene Pepperberg, author of Alex & Me

"With keen eye and rich heart, Elizabeth Marshall Thomas is once again a unique and invaluable guide to our animal neighbors and their world, which is, of course, our world, too. In this joyous book, brimming with fascinations, every page is a rare delight." -- Diane Ackerman, author of The Zookeeper's Wife and A Natural History of the Senses

"Elizabeth Marshall Thomas has been called America's best interpreter of animals, and here she is at the height of her powers. The Hidden Life of Deer is a remarkable achievement: It reveals your nearest woodlot as a scene of great mystery, intrigue, danger, drama, and passion." -- Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig

"When it comes to understanding the behavior of deer or of any wild creature, nothing takes the place of personal observation. Elizabeth Marshall Thomas is an experienced, careful observer of wildlife. The other requirement is that one thinks at great length about what has been observed, so that the reason for the behavior is understood. Elizabeth does that. We are kindred spirits." -- Aberdeen Press & Journal [Scotland]

"Informative and delightful. It is hard to imagine anyone coming away from it without a treasury of new insights into our planet. Some readers will change their attitude about the wildlife we live among, while others will disagree with some of Ms. Thomas's conclusions. But it is unlikely that anyone will close the last page without having come across a lot that gives food for thought--and considerable pleasure, too." -- Washington Times

"Through the eyes of this extraordinary woman, a reader slowly loses view of 'the wild' and instead begins to see individual creatures. It's as if we're granted access to an extended family that includes deer, bears, turkeys, and all the wild things of New England. The Hidden Life of Deer is a glorious achievement, giving new meaning to what it is both to be human and to be alive on this planet of wonders." -- New York Review of Books