Deer World - Hardcover

Taylor, Dave

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Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1550465015 ISBN 13: 9781550465013

Publisher: Boston Mills Press, 2008

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A year in the life of North America's most beautiful and popular game species.

This exciting book by renowned wildlife photographer Dave Taylor features 375 images of North American deer species in their natural habitat. Included are the two deer species indigenous to North America -- the whitetail and the mule deer -- as well as blacktail deer, elk, caribou and moose. These majestic animals are photographed at all stages of development, in all seasons, in locations across the continent.

Deer World explores a year in the life of deer, providing naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts a rare inside look at how seasonal events affect each species. The remarkable photographs are arranged by day and month, juxtaposed with informative captions that offer notes on the animal, its behavior, the role it plays within its local ecosystem, and where and when it can best be viewed.

As a bonus, Taylor includes photographs of other animals found in the deer's world, such as wolves and bears.

This book will thrill the millions of American deer enthusiasts.

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About the Author:

Dave Taylor is a well-known wildlife photographer, author and educator. He is the author of 30 books on wildlife and ecology, including Black Bears: A Natural History. He has guided several African photo-safaris and is the education program director for an urban-wild park in Mississauga, Ontario.

Introduction

As a wildlife photographer, I have entered the deer's world many times over the years. It is not hard to find your way into this world. I work at a city park called Riverwood, about a mile from where I live. The city of Mississauga, Ontario, population 700,000, surrounds it; however, the park happens to lie along a river and here twenty to thirty deer may be found. They are all white-tailed deer.

Deer are native to every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Although Africa is poorly represented by deer, Europe, Asia and South America all are home to many species. This book deals particularly with the deer of North America -- and their world encompasses almost the entire North American continent. When we think of deer we usually think of whitetails, but mule deer, black-tailed deer, Sitka deer, moose, elk and caribou are all members of the deer family. All of these species are included here.

This book follows the calendar year, and I have selected pictures to represent the natural events that occur on or near these dates. The progression shown throughout the seasons in a variety of locales should serve as a sort of diary for naturalists, photographers and hunters who want to experience this world. The captions for each photograph were written as a guide to understanding deer and their world.

There are no heroes or villains in this book. Some will no doubt perceive the wolf as a villain. Anyone visiting Yellowstone will soon learn that there are two distinct camps when it comes to wolves: wolf-lovers and wolf-haters. Yellowstone wolves attract people from all over North America who hope to view these alpha predators in the wild. Entire websites chronicle their lives. But as this book makes very clear, wolves are the main predator of North American ungulates. Since Europeans arrived here in the 1600s to farm and later to ranch, the conflict between man and wolf has been a one-sided battle. Wolves kill domestic sheep and cattle. They kill deer and elk. They kill our food. And what has been man's answer? They have to go! In the continental USA, wolves were virtually exterminated over the course of a few centuries. Old attitudes and prejudices die hard. Today wolves are still opposed by many ranchers and politicians. Wolves are still seen as "bad" animals by many. However, when wolves were restored to Yellowstone (where early park policy actively sanctioned their elimination), the now largely urban North American population applauded it. Wolves are wolves, just as deer are deer. They are part of a healthy ecosystem. Neither species is bad or good.

Many will read this book and not recognize that there is a central theme to it, one that encompasses deer but also includes all of the other species portrayed here. Every single species (with the possible exception of the loon) in this book has been hunted, trapped or "controlled" by humans. Another old prejudice that lingers on is that hunters and trappers are responsible for the near extinction of many species. To a degree that was true in the 1800s and early 1900s in North America. Hunters and trappers eliminated the passenger pigeon and almost caused the extinction of the bison, great egrets, wolves, beaver and other species.

But hunters and trappers were also the first to demand that wildlife be managed. The National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and many other such groups in states, provinces and countries worked hard to have legislation passed to conserve wildlife. Yes, it was so their sport would continue, but until the environmental movement started in the 1950s, theirs was the primary voice clamoring for proper management. Urbanites by and large could have cared less until then.

I have not hunted for over thirty years now and have no desire to ever do so again. I am well aware, however, that the wildlife I enjoy photographing survives in no small measure thanks to hunters, anglers and trappers. That does mean that I am not aware of the pioneering works of Murie, Seton and others who toiled in the field unlocking the secrets of nature's complexity, including Olaus Murie, who helped elevate wolves to their present stature. Nor would I want to in anyway take away from the wonderful work of the National Audubon Society, the World Wildlife Fund, Green Peace, the various nature conservancies, naturalist clubs and the many businesses that have supported wildlife. I find it interesting when I am around members of both the hunting groups (the wildlife consumers) and the naturalists groups (the protectors) how much the two opposing groups have in common. They agree more than they disagree on wildlife issues.

I would be remiss in not acknowledging the fine work that provincial, state and national governments have done in enacting laws, creating parks and setting aside habitats for wildlife. This book celebrates their achievements.

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