Mule Deer Country

Victor Clulow is a zoology professor at Laurentian University.

When a highly respected and accomplished zoologist (Valerius Geist) and
a gifted and devoted professional photographer (Michael Francis) get
together to produce what is obviously a labor of love, the result is
predictable: a book that is at once informative, stimulating, and
pleasing.

The mule deer’s history and natural history, its relatives and range,
and its plight and prospects are presented in an accessible text that
blends personal wisdom and observations. The writing is clear and spare,
and although many topics are covered in depth, as in the discussion of
genetics and behavior, the reader is never burdened by detail or
repetition. Illustrations (drawings and fine photographs) are
appropriate and well placed, and this esthetically pleasing book is
printed on fine-quality paper.

This volume belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in the natural
history of Canada’s large mammal fauna. Geist’s prognosis for the
mule deer’s destiny is grim. The debilitation and weakening that has
resulted from hybridization with the white-tailed deer and heavy hunting
activity by humans has put relentless pressure on the animal. The
author’s suggested solutions are, in his words, not practical or
feasible.

A small quibble: the lack of a reading list—a surprising omission in
a book of this type—will make it difficult for those whose interest
has been piqued to pursue the topic.