Stephanie's Reviews > The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with our Wild Neighbors

In her poetic and scientific exploration "The Age of Deer," Erika Howsare delves into the complex relationship between humans and one of the few remaining large wild animal species we routinely interact with. Through a combination of lyrical prose and factual research, Howsare examines the history, biology, and symbolism of deer, and what they reveal about our own wildness and disconnection from nature.

One of the more difficult aspects of the book is its unflinching look at the many ways deer suffer and die at the hands of humans and also just nature. Howsare details gruesome injuries from car collisions, hunting, accidents (a deer falling into a cavern — that one survived), and the perils of misguided domestication attempts by people who think they are helping by feeding wild deer. These passages can be heartbreaking to read, laying bare the tragic consequences of human encroachment on deer habitat and our failure to coexist harmoniously with them. I cried a few times.

But the book is not unrelentingly bleak. Howsare also marvels at the resilience of deer, who have rebounded from near extinction in the early 20th century to abundance today. She shares fascinating biological and historical information, like the little-known fact that deer were almost wiped out a hundred years ago. Now, their numbers have recovered to the point that many consider them pests. However, she raises the alarming research that Chronic Wasting Disease has become so widespread that it could potentially lead to the species' extinction if left unchecked.

Howsare has mixed feelings about deer hunting. She is repulsed by the idea of killing these magnificent and innocent creatures, acknowledging their endearing cuteness. At the same time, she recognizes that hunting, if done responsibly, is arguably a more ethical alternative to the inhumane conditions of industrial animal agriculture. It's a nuanced take on a highly charged issue.

Throughout the book, Howsare reflects on how deer are intricately connected to the land itself, as much a natural product of forests and fields as wild berries or mushrooms. They occupy a unique place between wildness and a world shaped by human civilization. Our interactions with deer, whether through hunting, feeding, or simply observing, can either widen that gap between humans and nature or help bridge it.

"The Age of Deer" is a reminder of how much we have to learn from other species about how to live in greater harmony with the natural world. Deer are a symbol of the wildness we have lost in ourselves, but also the potential for recovering a more balanced relationship with the environment. Howsare's beautifully-written, wide-ranging meditation brings a fresh and thought-provoking perspective to our enduring fascination with these captivating, crepuscular creatures. It's a poignant call to reexamine how we treat deer (don't feed them!) and what they can teach us about our place in the order of living things.