The Hidden Life of Deer
This is the perfect title for a book on deer, because living here in semi-rural Connecticut, we would see our fair share of deer as we drove around at dawn and dusk. Then when we tried to plant a garden, we saw the evidence of their work–footprints in the dirt and nibbles at the leaves. The morning glories that we trained on a trellis this summer only bloomed at the top of the trellis, because the deer ate all the way up both sides.
We would always see the results of deer presence in our yard, but until this last year or so, never actually saw the deer, which I thought was unfair.
I love to see deer. There is something so graceful and strong and beautiful about them. As I said, last year we started to see them more frequently, eating the evergreens on our property during the snowy winter.
In The Hidden Life of Deer Elizabeth Marshall Thomas writes about her observations of the deer population on her property that she was able to monitor specifically as a result of putting out corn for them in a season when the acorns, their usual winter diet, were scarce.
I found this book to be completely readable and fascinating. She takes a balanced look at wildlife, noting how humans effect wildlife and the effect that wildlife has on humans as well. Reading this book answered many questions that I had, such as "With a 40 pound barking dog in my yard, why do the deer come at all?" The answer is that they do not feel threatened by a barking dog. She is the enemy they know, and in fact serves to alert them of the stealthier, more potentially dangerous enemies (other dogs and people). The couple of times I've seen deer in the yard at daylight, I've always looked for the dog, and I've usually found her up on the back deck, watching them and staying very still, or waiting to be let in the house. She is no threat to them, and they obviously figured that out accurately.
In Marshall's effort to understand deer, she even goes out with a hunter. She understands that hunting is a part of the life of deer, with humans being natural predators, and she is not necessarily firmly against it as one might suppose.
For that reason, this book might make a great gift for a hunter or nature-lover.
We have a copy to give away to one of you (U.S. or Canadian shipping addresses). Just leave a comment here, and we'll announce the winner on November 11.
The winners of the Waiting for the Owl's Call giveaway are #6 Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker, #12 Penny Hull, and #22 Nicole C. The winners of The Swiss Courier are #1 Katy, #4 Stacy, #8 Jenny, #39 Anita, and #46 Nancy.
Seeing deer and other wildlife (foxes, pheasants, wild turkeys) is one of the things that Jennifer Donovan loves about living in Connecticut. She blogs about her life at Snapshot.
Filed under Jennifer, Non-Fiction by 
Comments on The Hidden Life of Deer
rita @ 1:26 pm
My husband is a hunter. We live in the woods and often see deer, now that the horses are gone.
This would obviously be a very interesting read for us. Thank you!
Amy @ 2:51 pm
I love deer as well, and I grew up seeing them in the backyard. I remember a book I was given when I first learned to read about the white-tailed deer that lived in our region. I'd love to read more about them!
Benita G. @ 2:51 pm
Sounds like an interesting read. A different perspective to consider.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Marla Taviano @ 2:55 pm
My father-in-law is a FANATICAL hunter. I would love to win this book for him!
Marj M. @ 3:36 pm
I would like to toss my name in for a chance at winning. Thank you.
cris @ 3:57 pm
We see deer at a friend's house in rural washington, almost always at dusk. Sounds like an interesting book!
Carly Kendall @ 3:59 pm
I have seen this book at the bookstore and thought it looked good. After reading your review, I really want to read it. Please add my name to the drawing. Thank you.
Wendy @ 5:00 pm
I have someone who would love this for a Christmas gift.
Stacie @ 8:00 pm
This books sounds very interesting. I love seeing the deer. They have Albino deer up North. I have yet to see them.
Anita Yancey @ 8:06 pm
We see deer all the time, because we have woods all around our house. Love to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!
Anita @ 8:14 pm
Wow! I'm glad to have won The Swiss Courier.
Does that mean I'm disqualified from winning other books? I hope not! 
(Please consider this my entry if I qualify… thanks!)
roseinthemorning [at] gmail [dot] com
Katrina @ Callapidder Days @ 8:44 am
I'd definitely be interested in reading this one, given my long history of "deer in the back yard."
Thanks!
Brenda Howard @ 4:45 pm
Just started seeing deer at my new job, would love to read this, thanks for the giveaway
Kathy @ 6:55 pm
I grew up in Va where deer are plentiful, now we live in a part of Texas where the deer have virtually disappeared so I would love to have this book.
Shannon Baas @ 7:57 pm
Looks like a great book.
corrie @ 8:30 pm
enter me please
keep up the good work jennifer!
susan varney @ 8:31 pm
i love to read mverno@roadrunner.com
ky2here @ 8:31 pm
As long as Bambi's mother doesn't get killed, I'm in.
Michele Anne @ 10:19 pm
sign me up….
Heather Diotte @ 12:30 am
I live in Canada, and it is currently Deer Hunting Season here unfortunately. Hubby and his buddies get all riled-up, while I mope at home because I get hurt easy at anything being shot.
roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
angie @ 1:25 am
This looks like a wonderful read.
Brian D. @ 3:11 am
We do hunt deer but not the ones that live in the woods behind us. They come out a lot in the spring to eat the berries and in the fall to munch on apples and persimmons. We prefer to hunt on national forest land.
David @ 4:00 am
We like deer, sounds like a good read, thanks.
Edgar K @ 8:36 am
We also live in a semi-rural area and would enjoy reading about our gentle neighbors. Deer have surprised us by sheltering in the old barn during snow storms.
Kay F @ 9:29 am
Live in the country and love watching the deer but they do alot of damage to my plants and trees but I'll put up with that just to have them around.
Cheryl @ 4:06 pm
We see a lot of deer, too, and my daughter and I would both love this book. Thanks!
Deborah Wellenstein @ 5:30 pm
We live in a semi-rural area, with a herd of deer close by. Thanks!
Melissa D @ 7:44 pm
I am also entranced by deer and would love to read this wonderful book! Thank you!
Winning Readings @ 8:17 pm
We also have evidence of deer on our property, but never see them! Oh, we see tons along the road as we drive into town, but never as they are biting into our fruit trees' dividends or leaving their droppings behind…
Posted about this at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/hidden-life-of-deer.html
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Carolyn @ 8:58 pm
I'd love to win. My dad hunts and my son is fascinated by deer.
Stacie @ 8:05 am
Thanks for the chance.
Roberta @ 8:09 am
Thank you for bringing our attention to this book. Our family loves nature and we don't get to see deer where we live. We would love to learn more about them.
Dave @ 10:56 am
My parents live in a rural area and deer visit their property all the time. This would be a fascinating read. Thank you for the chance to win.
Sandra K321 @ 1:48 pm
I live in a similar semi-rural town in mid-western Connecticut. We also can't grow anything outside because the deer will just eat it. My husband asks me why I bother planting deer food whenever I try. The only thing I can plant are daffodils. And just like you, our big yellow lab does nothing to keep them away. So I just watch them wander through our woods and on our lawn looking for food.
Wanda @ 5:53 pm
I would love to be entered in your draw for this book. Thanks.
Carol Lawrence @ 8:03 pm
I know someone who would love to have this book as Christmas gift.
Jaime P @ 9:00 pm
Would love to read, Thank you
Francine Anchondo @ 12:18 am
Thanks for the giveaway.
David Richardson @ 7:55 am
I love deer, but I will have to admit that they damage my garden too. I also hunt.
Becky K @ 7:59 am
My secret hobby is watching the deer that congregate on my lawn at sunrise! I must read this book! Thanks.
Nancy @ 8:20 am
I am an avid outdoor person and spend lots of time hiking and backpacking. I think I would enjoy reading this book. Thanks.
Doug @ 11:07 am
Have a couple of dozen that live in the neighborhood. Put deer corn out to feed them and enjoy watching them as they move through in the early morning and evening.
Adele @ 11:24 am
Yes deer are beautiful and irritating at the same time. I would love to read about this perspective.
Deedles @ 11:38 am
I would love to add this to my book collection.
Nick Brender @ 11:41 am
Looks like a good book.
Andria @ 12:02 pm
I would love a chance to win. Thank you.
shawna @ 1:41 pm
Sounds good..would love a chance to read it!
betty rood @ 1:54 pm
i would love to read this,we as well live in rural area in south alabama.Deer are seen often here(as well i like to leave some extra food in winter)..
thank you
alwaysatryin at gmail.com
Lance Pearson @ 3:40 pm
i live in northern ny, proper book for the place and the time of year
dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
Erma @ 5:19 pm
I'd love to win this for my hubby cause he is a hunter.
Ed Nemmers @ 5:20 pm
Happy Autumn!
jill klein @ 5:38 pm
My mom would like this…..
Laramoor@msn.com
Sherri B. @ 7:02 pm
I would so love to win this! We are hunters, but we are also conservators. We only shoot mature deer that need to be culled out of the herd and eat what we shoot. We also plant food that is good for deer growth throughout the year. Thanks!
sherri419 at gmail dot com
Melanie @ 7:48 pm
I grew up in the country, and one of the most calming things about driving late at night was the hope that I would see a deer, and I saw them everytime. I would love to read this.
Bridget Combs @ 8:04 pm
My son is a hunter and would absolutely love this book
Susan Smith @ 9:13 pm
Sounds like a good book
Sal Williams @ 10:02 pm
We live deep in the Everglades and have feeders set up quite close to our home where a small herd comes daily to dine and rest twice daily. Watching them as they relate to one another and watching the babies grow is an endlessly intriguing pastime. Although we take advantage of hunting season to cull the deer population on our ranch, we are basically environmentalists who want to safeguard this relatively pristine land and its inhabitants.This book sounds like a truly fascinating read. Great giveaway. Thanks.
dawn @ 2:45 am
This sounds so good. We see der up near the college by us.
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
dawn @ 2:46 am
This sounds so good. We see deer up near the college by us.
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
Rhonda Struthers @ 7:53 am
There are both Hunters and Nature lovers in my family. As we live in the country, I would love to read this book. Please enter me.
rhondastruthers at yahoo dot ca
Leslie @ 8:11 am
Would love a chance to win.
Gloria @ 8:25 am
I'd love to read this. We have so many deer in our area.
Veronica Garrett @ 8:57 am
This is a very fascinating book. We have lots of deer in our rural area.
Lily Kwan @ 9:16 am
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
dorothy l @ 9:47 am
please enter me in the book giveaway
Patty @ 9:52 am
When we lived in North Carolina we would have so many deer in our backyard. That is soemthing I really miss.
Jessica @ 9:59 am
We live near the forest and encounter them all the time as well. My husband was jogging on a bike path near our home and a deer was stanging right on the path blocking his way. He got frightened that the deer did not run away just stare at him. My husband quickly ran back the other way.
Lourdes @ 10:09 am
Thanks for the giveaway. Deer are such beautiful animals and this book would be lovely.
Linda K. @ 10:14 am
This sounds like a great read. I was fortunate enough to have a family that would frequently come to my yard.
Tarah @ 12:43 pm
Oh I would love to win this. We have a doe that wanders our property – we have begun to call her "Mama Deer" and every year she has two "Baby Deer" with her.
DanV @ 1:15 pm
This looks great
Gianna @ 4:43 pm
Please enter me
Emil Croskey @ 4:50 pm
She can have all my deer in the backyard. They eat stuff from my garden and the wreath on my door.
Lori Walker @ 7:22 pm
We have plenty of deer here, too! Take some!
Miranda Allen @ 8:47 pm
I would love to read this book
Jackee @ 8:54 pm
Oh this sounds like a great book. My brother is an avid hunter but also the person with the most appreciation for wild life that I know. I'd love to give him this book.